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THE 


VAR  BEPARTnENT 


AT  THE 


Qept^ppial  Exposition 


OF   THE 


0HI0  VALbEY  AND  CENTRAL  STATES, 

ci3sroi3snsr-^'T'i,  023:10, 


Cif? 


U}^. 


■i 


CATALOGUE  OF  THE  EXHIBIT 


H 


D 


E 


OF  THE  OHIO  MLEy 
L  STftTES, 


CINCINNATI,  OHIO,  JULY  I  TO  OCTOBER  27,  1888. 


ACT  OF  CONGRESS,   MAY  28,   1888. 


THE     HON.     WILLIAM     C.     ENDICOTX, 


Captain  a.  H.  RUSSELL,  Ordnance  Dept.  U.  S.  A., 

War  Department  Representative. 


Lieutenant  E.  S.  BENTON,  3d  Artillery, 


Assistant. 


^^0^ 


INDEX. 


PAGK 

CANiS'ON,    ArMOK    AKl)    TolU'EDi  IKS 1 

Early  Cannon 1 

Trophy  Cannon,  Revolution '. 2 

Tro])hy  Cannon,  Mexican   War 3 

U.  S.  Muzzle  Loaders 3 

Modern  Breech  Loaders 6 

Largest  European  Guns 12 

Depressing  Carriages  and  Armored  Turrets 14 

Torpedoes 10 

Volley  Guns  and   Machine  Guns 17 

Hand  Fire  Arms 24 

Match  Locks 25 

Wheel  Locks 26 

Muzzle  Loaders — Flint  Locks 27 

Muzzle  Loaders — Percussion  Locks 28 

Breech  Loaders,  Single  Shot 29 

Paper  Cartridges 29 

Metallic  Cartridges 32 

"  (^uick  Loaders  " 38 

Re])eating  Arms 40 

Early  Forms 40 

Revolving  Arms 40 

Magazine  Guns — Tubular  in  Butt  Stock 45 

Magazine  Guns — Tubular  Along  Barrel 47 

Magazine  Guns — "  Box  "  Magazines  at  the  Receiver 51 

Review  of  Magazine  Guns 58 

Automatic  Recoil  Guns 59 

Ajimunitkin 60 

Fuzes 60 

Primers  for  Cannon 63 

Powder  and  Small  Arm  Ammunition 04 

New  Small  Calibre  Cartridges 68 


i/90899 


IV  INDEX. 

PAGK 

Sl(iHTS,  Al'l'KNDAlJES,    EtC 71 

Rasue  Finuers 76 

Fix«'(l  Aiif^lc  Iiistrumonts 77 

Varialde  Aii^lt*  Iiistrmnents 80 

Sn<i()TiX(i  (Ialleky 82 

Powder  Pressure 82 

Measurenieiit  of  Velocity 83 

Re-loadiiig  Tools 87 

Relics,  Etc .'  88 

Antique  and  Curious  Weapons  88 

Revolution  and  War  of  1812 89 

Mexican  War 89 

War  of  the  Rehellion 91 

<  ireely  Expedition 98 

Miscellaneous 94 

Uniforms  and  Accoutrements 95 

Horse  Ei|uipnients 95 

Skjnai,  !Si;kvick  IOxhiiut 97 


EXPLANATORY  EEMARKS. 


The  Ordnance,  Quartermaster  and  Signal  Departments  are  regu- 
larly represented  in  the  exhibit,  but  the  greater  part  is  made  up  of 
ordnance  stores. 

The  main  object  sought  is  to  present  an  historical  series,  outlining 
the  development  of  fire  arms  from  the  earliest  period,  and  illustrat- 
ing the  latest  improvements,  whether  American  or  foreign,  so  that 
fair  estimate  can  be  made  of  our  armament  in  comparison  with 
that  of  other  powers. 

Besides  fire  arms,  a  collection  of  swords,  sabres,  lances,  etc.,  is 
shown.  A  very  full  exhilnt  of  small  arm  cartridges  is  made.  Ex- 
amples of  range  finders  and  testing  instruments  are  seen,  including 
instruments  operated  practically  for  determining  the  velocity  'of 
projectiles.  Many  relics  of  the  Revolution,  Mexican  War,  and 
the  War  of  the  Rebellion  are  exhibited. 

The  Quartermaster's  Department  contributed  the  field  office 
wagon  used  by  General  Geo.  H.  Thomas  during  the  war;  models 
of  various  forms  of  tents  used  in  service ;  and  lay  figures  showing 
the  uniforms  of  different  periods.  It  furnished,  too,  a  quantity  of 
United  States  flags  used  for  decoration.  The  boards  of  bayonets 
used  in  decoration  were  prepared  at  the  National  Armory.  The 
flags  of  different  nations  hung  in  the  War  Department  section,  were 
loaned  by  the  Navy  Department. 

The  Signal  Service  exhibits  many  instruments  illustrating  the 
processes  of  observation  for  forecasting  the  weather  ;  with  flags, 
torches,  etc.,  used  in  military  signaling.  Weather  maps  and  re- 
ports are  displayed  daily. 

The  main  supi)ly  of  arms,  etc.,  came  from  the  Military  Acade- 
my, the  National  Armory,  ahd  the  Frankford  Arsenal ;  but  articles 
also  came  from  Allegheny  Arsenal,  Watervliet  Arsenal,  Rock  Island 
Arsenal,    Fort   Monroe,   the   Ordnance   Office,   and   the   Ordnance 


i:XPLANAT<)K\     Kt.MAkKs. 


Proving  CJround,  Sandy  Hook.  Many  objects  of  interest  were 
drawn  from  the  Museum  of  the  Military  Service  Institution  on 
Governor's  Island  :  and  the  Engineer  Department,  though  not  form- 
ally represented,  sent  valuable  models  of  tori)edoes,  gun  carriages, 
etc.,  from  Willets  Point  and  New  York.  Contributions  were  also 
made  l>y  ])rivate  jiarties. 

Attendants  are  always  on  hand  ready  to  explain  and  illustrate 
the  use  of  the  various  articles.  No  enlisted  men  are  on  duty  m 
the  War  Department  here.  The  following,  all  civilians,  are  em- 
ployed for  this  duty  and  instructed  for  the  purpose  :  Charles  Becht, 
Captain  ist  Regiment  Infantry,  O.  N.  G.;  Edward  Schlesinger,  ist 
Lieutenant  ist  Regiment  Infantry,  O.  N.  (i.:  Cieo.  W.  Vanduzen, 
Newport,  Ky.;  W.  B.  Hitchcock,  National  Armory,  Springfield, 
Mass.;  Kinney  Lowe,  Newport,  Ky.;  attendants.  Albert  H. 
Wendt,  Newport,  Ky.,  messenger. 

It  is  a  noticeable  fact  that  in  recent  years  the  greatest  improve- 
ment in  military  weapons  has  been  due  to  American  inventors,  but 
that  the  advantage  of  the  inventions  has  been  chiefly  developed 
by  foreign  nations  from  the  want  of  funds  for  carrying  out  public 
experiments  in  this  country.  This  is  true  of  powder,  shot,  cannon, 
machine  guns  and  small  arms;  and  many  things  of  American  inven- 
tion, now  used  in  our  service,  have  been  re-im])orted.  Witness : 
Rodman's  perforated  cake  i)owder;  the  slotted  l)reech  screw  for  large 
guns,  etc. 

In  regard  to  fire  arms,  the  very  remarkable  point  is  illustrated 
that  the  earliest  arms  made  were  breech-loaders,  and  that  all  nations 
have  returned  to  this  principle  after  long  abandonment  of  it  and  use 
of  muzzle  loaders.  The  collection  of  carbines  and  rifles  comprises 
nearly  150  varieties.  It  is  shown  that  some  very  early  forms  were 
breech-loaders,  but  that  it  was  only  by  the  American  invention  of 
metallic  shell  ammunition  that  breech  loaders,  now  general,  became 
efficient.  Magazine  guns  were  also  made  practicable  by  the  above 
improvement  in  cartridges,  and  the  first  effective  gun  of  this  class, 
the  Spencer  used  in  the  War  of  the  Rebellion,  was  an  American 
invention.  The  more  recent  forms  of  magazine  gun  adopted  by 
foreign  powers — those  fitted  with  detachable  magazines,  or  with 
fixed  magazines  made  to  fill  rapidly  by  prepared  packages — also  owe 
their  inception  to  American  inventors.      In  machine  guns  the  influ- 


EXPLANATORY    REMARKS. 


ence  of  American  invention  is  very  prominent,  and  automatic  recoil 
guns  were  invented  here,  though  develojjed  abroad. 

The  history  of  small  fire-arms  shows  a  decrease  of  calibre  from 
70-iooths  of  an  inch  to  291.4,  but  in  big  guns  the  opposite  tendency 
is  noticed.  Our  heaviest  rifle  shot  weighs  800  pounds,  while  Krupp 
is  making  for  Germany  a  gun  to  throw  a  projectile  weighing  3,300 
pounds.  The  frontispiece  view  of  the  exhibit  shows  the  remarkable 
contrast  in  size  of  shot. 

In  preparing  this  catalogue,  great  assistance  has  been  derived 
from  th#  excellent  catalogue,  made  by  Captain  Henry  Metcalfe, 
Ordnance  Department  U.  S.  A.,  of  the  Ordnance  Exhibit  at  the 
Philadelphia  Centennial  of  1876;  and  the  descriptions  of  many  of 
the  instruments,  and  of  most  of  the  earlier  cannon,  machine  guns, 
and  small  arms,  have  been  condensed  from  those  given  there.  The 
order  of  arrangement  has  been  changed,  however,  particularly  by 
classifying  the  repeating  arms  together,  and  grouping  the  true  mag- 
azine guns  according  to  the  form  and  position  of  the  magazine. 

The  plates  of  the  Mauser  magazine  gun,  verified  from  the  gun 
itself,  together  with  much  of  the  information  regarding  foreign  tests 
of  the  new  small  calibre  cartridges,  have  been  taken  from  the  "  In- 
formation Series,"  published  by  the  Office  of  Naval  Intelligence  at 
Washington,  there  being  no  corresponding  office  in  the  War  De- 
partment. 

Lieut.  E.  S.  Benton,   3d  Artillery,   Assistant,   has  charge  of  the 
transportation  department,  receiving  and  shipping  stores. 

A.  H.  Russell,    Captain  oj  Ordnance  U.  S.  A? my, 

Represefitative  of  the    War  Department. 


CANNON,  ARMOR,  AND  TORPEDOES. 


Field  guns  are  the  largest  shown  in  the  Exhibit,  but  by  means 
of  models  and  projectiles,  the  collection  serves  to  indicate  the  pro- 
gress made  in  the  construction  of  cannon  from  the  earliest  forms — 
breech  loading  smooth  bore  guns  of  light  weight,  of  date  of  the  14th 
century — to  the  largest  Krupp  rifle  guns  of  to-day.  The  forms  of 
field  gun  carriage  illustrate  the  progression  of  construction  from  the 
Gribeauval  system,  used  in  the  Napoleonic  Wars,  and  the  stock 
trail  system  (wooden  carriage)  used  during  the  Rebellion,  to  the 
steel  gun  carriage  now  used.  Illustrations  are  also  given  of  the 
revolving  turrets  and  depressing  gun  carriages  now  deemed  neces- 
sary in  many  positions  for  heavy  guns,  and  of  torpedoes  for  addi- 
tional defense. 


EARLY    CANNON. 

1.  Chinese  Cannon,  Bronze. 

This  gun  was  captured  from  the  Coreans,  June  10-11,  1871,  by  the  U.  S. 
Naval  Squadron,  commanded  by  Rear  Admiral  John  Rodger.s,  U.  S.  Navy. 
Presented  to  the  Museum  of  the  Artillery  School,  TT.  S.  Army,  by  Major  W. 
F.  Randolph,  Third  Artillery.  It  is  a  .short  breech-loading  wall-piece,  two 
inches  in  calibre.  The  piece  bears  an  inscription  in  Chinese  characters.  A 
translation  made  by  the  Chinese  Minister  shows  that  the  piece  was  manufac- 
tured in  1312.  The  charge  was  contained  in  a  hollow  block,  with  a  handle  at 
the  top,  by  which  it  was  placed  in  position.  This  breech-block  had  projec- 
tions at  the  lower  part  of  the  rear  end,  and  these,  with  the  assistance  of  a  key 
driven  above  them,  through  mortises  in  the  side  of  the  breech,  held  the  block 
in  place  for  firing.  The  guns  of  that  period  in  Europe  were  made  of  wrought 
iron,  like  the  next  gun  described,  and  cast  guns  were  unknown.  This  gun, 
with  other  articles  mentioned  below,  was  contributed  to  the  exhibit  from  the 
Artillery  School,  through  the  courtesy  of  Brevet  Brigadier-General  J.  C.  Tid- 
ball,  commanding  Fort  Monroe. 

2.  Old  Breech  Loading  Gun,  4-poiinder. 

Brought  up  by  a  dredging  machine,  from  the  bed  of  the  Hudson  river, 
at  Albany,  in  1879.  Though  the  date  of  the  manufacture  of  this  piece  is  not 
known,  its   form   is   precisely  that  of  the  earliest  English   cannon   of  the 


V/- 


V 


War  Department  Exhibit. 


fourtecntl\  ^.t-jitinv^-,  yml  jt  (loubtless  dates  back  to  that  time.  It  is  made  of 
w:ouf;h't  ir/lii;  wiOi  /.toj't'i'jing  bands  around  the  barrel.  It  has  a  short  handle 
•yteiuliiip  to  ih«  rwii-  ^il.ih  tlie  cascabel.  The  bore  runs  from  a  calibre  of  two 
inclics  at  the  breerh  to  four  inches  at  the  muzzle.  The  exterior  increases  in 
diameter  towards  the  muzzle,  but  the  iron  is  so  badly  rusted  that  the  original 
dimensions  can  hardly  be  determined.  The  breech-closing  arrangements 
were  practically  the  same  as  in  the  Chinese  gun  described  above.  This  gun. 
with  many  other  articles  mentioned  behjw,  was  sent  from  the  Museum  at 
Governor's  Island,  through  the  courtesy  of  Major-General  J.  M.  Schofield, 
President  of  tlie  Military  Service  Institution,  and  Bvt.  Brig.  Gen.  T.  F. 
Uodciiliongh,  Secretary. 


TROPHY  CANNON  OF  THE  REVOLUTION. 

3.  Revolulionary  Gun  and  Carriafie. 

Heavy  twelve-|)ounder,  bronze  gun,  muzzle  loading;  mounted  on  a 
(iribeauval  carriage;  captured  from  the  British  in  the  Kevolutionary  War,  at 
the  battle  of  Saratoga,  October  17,  1777.  From  Governor's  Island. 

4.  Bronze  Gun  ;  calibre,  three  inches;  English. 

Captured  at  Saratoga.  From  West  Point. 

").  Two  Bronze  Guns  of  same  pattern;  English. 

Cai)tured  at  Saratoga;  one  bent  in  chase  to  render  it  useless. 

From  Alleghany  Arsenal. 

0.  Three  Coehorn  Mortars,  Bronze. 

Two  of  4:^4  and  one  of  5%  inches  calibre.  Surrendered  by  British  at  battle 
of  Saratoga.  Coehorn  mortars  are  light  pieces,  which  can  be  readily  carried 
for  use  in  the  trenches  during  siege  operations.  The  24-pounder  Coehorn 
mortar  of  our  service  could  be  transported  by  two  men,  and  it  was  particularly 
useful  on  account  of  its  plunging  fire  for  shelling  points  protected  l)y  em- 
bankments. From  West  Point. 

7.  Two  Ooeiiorn  Mortars,  4f  inches  calibre. 

Cajiturod  from  British  at  Stony  Point. 

8.  Two  I)roii/e  Boat  Howitzers,  ■24-i)()un(lcr;   English. 

Place  of  capture  unknown.  From  Alleghany  Arsenal. 

9.  Bronze  Gun,  G-pounder;  English. 

Made  in  17()1.  Bearing  inscription,  "Surrendered  by  Cornwallis  at 
capitulation  of  Yorktown,  October  19,  1781."  It  is  called  the  Ligonier  gun, 
because  it  bears  the  initial  of  Ligonier,  an  Ejiglish  field  marshal,  who  was 
Master  of  Ordnance  at  the  time  it  was  made.  Length,  four  feet  ten  inches. 
Weight,  64G  pounds.  From  Fort  Monroe. 

10.  Bronze  Howitzer,  "24  jxtunder;    English. 
Surrendered  by  Cornwallis  at  Yorktown,  October  19,  1781. 


War  Dcpmimcut  Exhibit. 


11.  Bronze  Howitzer,  8  inches  calibre;  American. 

Made  by  I).  King,  Phihuk'lpliia,  170.].  From  Alk-ghaiiy  Ar.senal. 

12.  Tliree  Bronze  Howitzers,  2^  incites  calibre;  American. 

Two  ix'aviii.t;-  inscription,  "  D.  Kin.t;-,  Gerniantown."         From  Wi'sl  Point. 

13.  Wall  Howitzer,  4-pounder,  cast  iron,  very  old. 

Fort  Marion,  8t.  Augustine,  Florida.  From  (iovernor's  Island. 

14.  Old  Spanish  Piece,  wroujiiht-iron,  4-i)<)under. 

Used  at  the  siege  of  the  Ahimo  in  1830.  Buried  by  the  Mexicans  on  the 
evacuation  of  tlie  phxce  after  the  battle  of  San  Jacinto,  and  found  by  workmen 
while  digging  a  cellar. 

MEXICAN    TROPHY    CANNON. 

15.  Mexican  Cannon,  8-pounder. 

Muzzle  indented  by  cannon  ball.  Captured  at  the  battle  of  Monterey, 
September  23.  l.S-tC.  From  West  Point. 

16.  Mexican  Howitzer,  4-pounder. 

Captured  at  the  battle  of  Monterey,  September  23,  1846. 

U.    S.    MUZZLE    LOADERS.  , 

17.  Old  Ship  (iun,  cast  iron. 

Fitted  with  rings  for  carrying. 

18.  U.  S.  12-pounder  Field  Gun  and  24-pounder  Howitzer. 

Model  with  carriage  and  limber.  This  illustrates  the  stock  trail  .system 
of  wooden  gun  carriage,  used  during  the  war  of  the  Rebellion.  The  12-pounder 
gun  here  referred  to  was  adopted  in  1856,  and  modeled  after  the  gun  designed 
by  Napoleon  III.  to  take' the  place  of  the  variety  of  calibres  used  before  in  the 
French  field  service.  It  was  used  more  extensively  than  any  other  field  gun 
during  the  war  of  the  Eebellion,  and  it  was  i)articularly  effective  where  the 
character  of  the  country  required  the  fighting  to  be  carried  on  at  short  range. 
Weight  of  gun,  1,226  pounds;  weight  of  shot,  12  pounds;  weight  of  charge, 
2K  pounds;  velocity,  1,495  feet  per  second;  extreme  range,  2,090  yards; 
elevation  10  degrees;  weight  of  carriage,  1,175  pounds;  contents  of  chest, 
packed:  .shot,  fixed,  20;  spherical  case,  8;  canister,  4;  spare  cartridges, 
2;  friction  primers,  48;  slow  match,  yards,  1.5;  port-fire,  2. 

From  Governor's  Island. 

19.  Three-inch  Wrouiiht-Iron  Muzzle-Loading  Rifle. 

Represented  only  by  its  projectile.  This  gun  was  used  extensively  during 
the  war,  and  was  one  of  the  earliest  of  modern  wrought-iron  guns.  (Jun 
made  at  Phcenixville,  Pa.,  by  wrapping  boiler-plate  around  an  iron  bar,  so 
as  to  form  a  cjiindrical  mass.  Tiie  whole  is  brought  to  welding  heat  in  a 
furnace,  and  then   ))assed   between   rollers  to  unite  the  bar  and  layers  solidly 


War  Department  Exhibit. 


toycllier.  Tlie  trunnions  are  then  wcMod  on,  and  tlio  pieie  is  finished  to  the 
proper  size.  Tlie  bar  forniinp  the  core  is  hi rjie  enough  to  leave  some  metal 
outside  thelu.re.  and  add  longitudinal  strength  to  the  gun.  The  projectile 
liere  shdwn  is  a  10  pounder  shell,  lired.  it  has  the  Eureka  saijot  at  the  ba.se  to 
take  the  rilling  and  give  rotation.  This  sahot  is  a  soft  metal  cup  placed  on 
the  ha.se,  concave  side  to  the  rear,  fitted  with  a  ring-lij)  projecting  forward 
over  the  sides  of  the  i.rujectile,  which  is  beveled  'iff  to  re('eive  it.  The  gas 
pressure  flattens  the  cui»,  jiressing  the  lij)  forward  and  outward  into  the  rifiing. 
With  large  shell  ditliculty  has  been  experienced  from  weakness  at  the  base 
where  the  sabot  is  fastened  by  an  a.xial  screw.  The  fuze  plug  is  fitted  with 
the  Laidley  igniter  (see  fuzes)  for  starting  the  paper  time-fuze. 

Shot  loaned  by  Col.  J.  W.  Abert,  formerly  of  Corps  of  Engineers,  U.  S. 
A.,  now  living  in  Newport.  Ky. 

20.  M(m1.'1  of  l:;  iiirh  Cast  Iron  Mortnr.  and  Bed. 

21.  Model  ol'  lo-iuch  Mortar. 

A  center  pintle  chassis  replaces  the  old  wooden  platforn\  iirotected  by 
iron  i)lates  formerly  used  with  this  mortar,  and  this  saves  much  time  in  point- 
ing. 15y  means  of  the  eccentric  axle  at  the  center  of  the  chassis  the  weight 
is  thrown  on  the  traversing  wheels  while  pointing.  Ik-fore  firing,  the  chassis  is 
thrown  out  of  gear.  Weight,  17,120  pounds;  weight  of  shell,  200  pounds; 
weight  of  ma.ximum  charge,  20  pounds;  extreme  length.  54  inches;  length 
of  bore,  2.7  calibre;  range,  45  degrees  elevation,  maximum  charge,  4,200 
yards;  time  of  fiighi,  .SO'i.  seconds;  weight  of  chassis,  2,000  pounds;  length 
of  rail,  I!K)  inches.  The  mortar  can  be  elevated  and  depressed,  either  by  a 
single  handspike  working  in  the  ratchet.s  cut  in  the  breech,  or  by  two  hand 
spikes  fitted  on  to  the  arms  attached  to  the  trunnions. 

l'"rom  Ordnance  Office. 

22.  Model  ol' 2UU  pouiulei'  i'arj-ott  Jiiile. 

This  was  made  from  jiieces  of  the  metal  used  in  making  the  guns  of 
Hie  first  Monitor.  This  is  a  cast-iron  gun,  re-enforced  by  a  coiled  wrought- 
iron  jacket, shrunk  on  over  the  seat  of  the  charge;  10,20,30,  1(X),  200  and 
300  pounder  I'arrott  rifies  were  used  during  the  war  of  the  Rebellion.  The 
larger  calibres  were  cast  hollow  on  the  Rodman  i)rinciple.  Though  never 
adopted  as  a  jiart  of  the  system  of  our  artillery,  they  were  largely  used. 
They  were  the  first  high-power  riMed  guns  used  extensively  in  war,  and  they 
attained  a  range  of  over  five  miles.  They  are  interesting  as  early  examples  of 
guns  formed  of  two  metals.  Tlie  larger  calibres  had  but  short  life.  The  brass 
base-ring  of  the  jirojectile  for  giving  rotation  by  exjiansion  into  the  rilling  was 
liable  to  striji  and  tear  olT. 

Moilcl  presented  by  Mr.  Howard  S.  Winslow,  Cincinnati. 

23.  Cast  Iron  Killes,  12  and  12.25  iivdi  calibre. 

Lined  with  a  tube  of  steel  or  coiled  wrought  iron.  These  large  calibre 
breech-loading  guns  are  rein-e.sented  by  a  Butler  shot,  weighing  700  lbs. 
for  a  I2.2iVincli  gun.  The  Butler  shot,  invented  by  Captain  J.  G.  But- 
ler,    Ordnance     Dci.artmcnt,     has    for    sabot    a    soft     metal    ring    screwed 


War  Department  Exhibit. 


on  tlie  base,  the  ring  having  a  groove  in  the  rear  surfaces,  forming  a  narrow- 
lip  on  the  outer  edge,  and  a  wider  one  on  tlie  inner.  Tlie  powder 
gases  acting  07i  tlie  outer  lip  force  it  out  into  the  rifling  to  give  rotation  to 
the  shot,  and  check  the  flow  of  gas  past  the  shot,  at  the  same  time  tending 
to  press  the  inner  lip  more  firndy  on  the  shot,  and  prevent  stripping  of  the 
sabot.  It  was  the  first  base  sabot  fully  answering  the  conditions  for  muz- 
zle-loading rifles  of  large  calibre,  as  all  others  proposed  before  had  w'orked 
irregularly,  resulting  in  great  variation  of  the  powder  pressures  in  the  gun. 

Americans  have  taken  the  lead  in  inventions  for  giving  rotation  to  a  shot 
in  muzzle-loaders  by  means  of  sabots.  The  English  used  studded  projectiles 
(rej^resented  in  the  exhibit  by  an  Armstrong  8K-inch  shell),  and  long  after 
the  sabot  had  been  used,  the  U.  S.  adopted  a  sabot  merely  as  gas  check 
in  addition  to  the  studs,  fiiKillj^  abandoning  the  studs  and  relying  on  the 
sabot  alone.  The  Eureka  sabot  descrilied  before  is  another  form  sometimes 
used  with  large  guns. 

Muzzle-loading  rifle  guns  of  large  calibre  have  been  made  in  large  num- 
bers in  our  service,  by  conversion  from  smooth  bores  of  larger  calibre,  the 
old  gun  being  bored  out  and  lined  with  a  tube  of  steel  or  coiled  wrought 
iron.  jMany  of  these  guns  are  now  in  service,  notably  8-inch  rifles  converted 
from  10-inch  Rodman  guns.  Though  extremely  useful  within  certain 
limits,  the  bore  is  too  sliort  to  give  the  best  etrect  demanded  from  guns  of 
that  calibre. 

24.  Model  ol  12-incli  Cast-iron  Rifle. 

Mounted  on  Barbette  Carriage.  The  upper  carriage  has  two  sets  of 
wheels,  front  and  rear,  placed  between  the  plates  composing  the  cheeks  of 
the  carriage.  The  carriage  starts  in  its  recoil  on  sliding  friction,  and,  after 
a  distance  of  about  one  foot,  finishes  the  remainder  of  its  recoil  on  rolling 
friction,  the  rollers  moving  up  wedge-shaped  pieces,  which  form  steeper  in- 
clines toward  the  rear  of  the  chassis.  The  gun  is  caught  at  the  end  of  its 
recoil  by  couplings,  and  spring  butters  at  the  rear  and  front  of  the  chassis 
relieve  the  shock  if  the  top  carriage  strikes.  The  gun  is  loaded  when  drawn 
back,  and  when  released  runs  promptly  forward  "into  battery."  The  ordinary 
crane  and  differential  pulley  are  used  for  loading.  The  muzzle  of  the  gun 
is  raised  and  lowered  by  means  of  two  circular  racks,  fastened  to  the  breech, 
and  moved  by  cog-wheels  on  the  carriage.  Steps  and  rails  are  placed  about 
the  carriage,  so  as  to  make  easy  access  to  all  parts.  The  points  of  special 
interest  in  this  carriage  are  the  arrangements  for  checking  recoil.  This  is 
accomplished  by  means  of  a  hydraulic  buffer,  9  inches  in  exterior  diameter, 
and  long  enough  to  secure  a  recoil  of  seven  feet.  The  effect  of  the  force  of 
discharge,  comnuinicated  to  the  chassis  through  the  butter,  is  borne  by  the 
pintle  in  front,  and  Ijy  two  sets  of  grooved  wheels  attached  to  forks  sup- 
porting the  rear  end,  thus  distributing  the  strain  over  the  entire  extent  of  the 
foundations.  The  hydraulic  buffer  is  composed  of  a  strong  cylinder,  partly 
filled  with  glycerine  and  water,  and  attached  at  the  front  of  the  chassis, 
between  the  rails.  A  i)iston-rod  projects  from  the  rear,  the  outer  end  of  the 
rod  being  attached  to  a  fork,  extending  downward  from  the  rear  of  the 
top  carriage.  Perforations  in  the  piston  head  allow  the  flow  of  liquid  as  the 
pistoii  is  drawn  out  during  recoil,  or  pushed  in  by  running  the  gun  for- 
ward.    The  resistance  to  rapid  flow  checks  the  recoil,    and  allows  the   use 


PFar  Department  Exhibit. 


of  a  shorter  t-liassis  than  without  the  hnffer.  It  transmits  the  force 
to  the  ehassis,  hut  in  a  comparatively  jrradual  manner  without  severe 
^^iiuck. 

In  the  Kn-h?^li  Vavasseur  ea.rriai,'C.  two  cylintlers  are  used,  lilled  with 
ii.|ui<l,  an<l  arranged  so  tiiat  the  piston  of  one  is  hcing  drawn  out  while 
that  of  the  other  is  heinp  pushed  in,  connection  hetween  the  cylinders 
allowiuf;  compensation  of  the  amounts  of  water  in  each.  The  piston- 
heads  are  composeil  of  two  jiarts.  hoth  perforated,  one  fixed  to  the  rod 
and  one  turiiiufj  on  it,  the  motion  heintr  controlled  hy  a  i)rojection  on  the 
circumference  working;  in  a  sj.iral  f.'roovc  on  the  inner  surface  of  its 
cylinder.  This  nu)tion  is  so  adjusted  as  to  progressively  close  the  openings 
and  graduate  the  resistance  of  the  licpiid  in  its  flow  to  the  decreasing  ve- 
locity of  recod  as  the  gun  runs  hack.  (See  Report  of  Chief  of  Ordnance 
for  '77  and  'S(i.  Report  of  Board  on  Fortifications  and  other  Defenses, 
18.S.5.) 

The  doul)K' jiiston-hcad  here  descrihed  is  of  American  invention. 

A  device  used  on  the  carriage  for  the  l(Xt-ton  cast-iron  Italian  gun,  ac- 
complishes this  graduation  of  resistance  without  douhle  piston-heads  by 
means  of  wedge-shaped  bars,  fixe<l  longitudinally  on  the  inner  surface  of  the 
cylinder.  Slots  on  the  outer  edge  of  the  inston-head  run  along  these  bars, 
which  fill  the  openings  more  and  more  as  the  recoil  progresses.  A  varia- 
tion of  this  principle  has  tapering  rods,  with  round  holes  in  the  piston- 
head,  proilucing  the  same  efToct. 

MODERN   BREECH-LOADERS. 
'2.1.   Williams'  Breech-Loadiiiii-  Ritie;  calibre,  1.56  inches. 

'I'liis  corresjionds  to  the  class  of  (juick-loaders,  now  exemplified  by  the 
Ilotchkiss  rapid  firing  guns,  the  latter,  however,  liaving  the  great  advantage 
of  using  self-primed  metallic-case  ammunition,  to  which  the  Williams  gun 
might  readily  he  adapted  for  use  with  moderate  calibres.  The  Williams 
gini  has  a  hreech-hlock  moving  back  and  forth  in  the  line  of  the  barrel.  It 
is  oi)crated  by  turning  a  crank  on  the  right  side.  Upon  the  crank  shaft, 
which  is  perpendicular  to  the  axis  of  the  bore,  is  an  eccentric  which  alter- 
nately withdraws  and  pushes  in  the  breech-block  to  open  and  close  the 
breech.  A  worm  at  the  end  of  the  shaft  works  on  the  end  of  the  lever  at  the 
leftside  of  the  piece,  the  lever  having  a  hammer  at  the  other  end.  When  the 
end  of  the  worm  is  reached,  the  hammer  thus  raised  is  released  and  forced  by 
a  spring  against  a  nipple  on  which  a  percussion  cap  is  placed.  The  mechan- 
ism is  so  arranged  that  just  after  the  breech-block  is  closed  the  hammer  falls 
and  fires  the  itiece.  The  l)reecb-block  is  supported  against  the  shock  of  the 
discharge  by  the  eccentric,  which  transfers  the  strain  to  the  shaft  upon  which 
it  revolves.  Tlie  gas  check  used  in  the  Williams  gun  strongly  resembles 
the  Freyre  gas  check  used  in  the  new  U.S.  breech-loading  field-gun  described 
hereafter.  "  The  inventor,  Mr.  D.  R.  Williams,  of  Covington,  Ky.,  took  the 
gun  South  at  the  beginning  of  the  Rebellion,  and  it  was  adopted  by  the  Con- 
federate (Government.  Some  of  the  batteries  are  said  to  have  done  much 
execution.     The   inventor  claims  to  have  fired  sixty-five  shots  per  minute. 

From  West  Toint. 


War  Department  Exhibit. 


26.  Model  of  Breech- Action  of  Siitcliff  Gun. 

Disk-shaped  breech-biock,  supported  by  a  pin  attached  to  tlic  front  end 
of  hollow-breech-screw,  by  the  half  revolution  of  whicli  the  block  is  lowered 
into  a  mortise  in  the  body  of  the  gun,  and  the  chamber  ex]>osed.  On  closing, 
the  screw  sets  up  firmly  against  the  block,  and  transmits  the  strain  to  the 
walls  of  the  breech. 

27.  Knipp  Breech-Loading  Steel  RiHe  ;  calibre,  3.65. 

This  gun  has  the  earlier  form  of  breech-block,  made  in  two  wcdgc-shapc 
parts,  the  whole  lilock  sliding  at  right  angles  to  the  axis  of  the  bore 
in  sockets  in  the  breech.  When  the  block  is  run  in,  turning  a-  screw 
at  its  end  forces  the  two  wedges  together  and  tigiitly  closes  the  breech,  the 
reverse  action  loosening  the  block  and  allowing  it  to  lie  drawn  out.  The 
gas  check  is  a  copper  ring  of  triangular  section,  fitting  in  a  socket  in  tiie 
block  and  expanding  luider  the  powder  pressure  to  completely  close  the 
crack  which  may  be  left  between  the  face  of  the  block  and  the  end  of  the 
barrel.  From  Ordnance  Proving  Ground,  Sandy  Hook. 

28.  Hotchkiss  Breech-Loading'  Steel  Mountain  Iville. 

Oalibre,  l.On  inches.  This  has  a  hreci-b-block  sliding  atright  angles  to  the 
axis  of  the  bore,  after  the  manner  of  the  later  Krupp  guns.  It  is  locked, 
when  closed,  by  a  sectional  screw  within  the  block.  Used  in  ojierations  in 
a  very  rough,  mountainous  covuitry,  im])assable  to  wheeled  vehicles,  as  it 
can  be  packed  on  mule  back  or  carried  by  two  men.  Calibre,  1.65;  number  of 
grooves,  12;  depth,  .075  inch ;  width,  .30;  weight  of  gun,  110  pounds ;  charge 
of  powder,  269.5  grains*;  weight  of  shot,  about  two  pounds.  Mounted  on 
steel  carriage,  to  which  shafts  can  be  attached  for  hauling  by  one  animal. 
The  powder  is  contained  in  a  metallic  cartridge  case,  either  of  wrapped 
metal  or  with  a  soldered  joint.  Through  the  center  of  the  iron  head 
of  tliis  case  is  a  flame  hole,  closed  by  an  internal  valve,  which  is  lifted  by 
the  Hame  from  the  friction  primer,  but  is  closed  by  the  pressure  of  the  gas 
within  the  Inire  when  the  cartridge  is  fired.  A  wide  band  of  thin  ])rass  en- 
circles the  projectile,  and  this  is  forced  into  the  rifling  to  give  rotation. 
Abijve  the  breech-block,  in  the  liody  of  the  gun,  is  a  sliding  extractor, 
worked  by  an  oljlique  groove  in  the  upper  surface  of  the  breech-block,  in 
which  a  stud  on  the  lower  surface  of  the  extractor  is  engaged.  Captain  Frank 
D.  Baldwin,  Fifth  United  States  Infantry,  has  devised  an  ingenious  carriage 
for  this  gun.  It  is  fashioned  somewhat  like  a  mortar  bed,  with  cheek  pieces, 
but  no  chassis.  The  lower  parts  of  the  cheeks  can  be  turned  outward,  swing- 
ing on  a  horizontal  hinge,  to  fit  on  an  aparejo,  so  that  gun  and  carriage  can 
be  packed  together  on  a  mule  for  transportation. 

29.  New  Breech  Loading  Field  Gun,  U.  S.  Steel. 

Calibre,  3.2  inches.  This  gun  is  biult  up  witli  a  central  tul>e,  S5.2  incln's 
long,  varying  in  exterior  diameter  from  6  inches  to  4.0  inches  near  the  muzzle  ; 
and  a  jacket,  length  25.9  inches,  maximum  diameter  9.56  inches,  which 
is  shrunk  over  the  rear  part  of  the  tu1)e,  a  shoulder  on  which  prevents  the 
jacket  from  working   forward.      The  rear  end  of  the  tube  abuts  against  a 


8  War  DepafimeTii  Exhibit. 


base  ring,  screwed  inside  of  tlie  jacket,  which  projects  bej'ond  the  tube 
at  the  rear.  The  Frencii,  or  "slotted  screw,"  breech-block,  works  in  this 
base  riiiK.  In  fn)nt  of  the  jacket,  and  bound  to  it  by  an  overlapping  locking 
joint,  is  tlie  trunninn  hooj)  shrunk  on  to  the  tube.  Its  width  between  rim 
ba.ses  is  !».r)  inches,  and  its  length  S..S  indies.  In  front  of  the  trunnion-hoop, 
and  iK'uring  close  against  it,  is  the  "  sleeve,"  shrunk  on  to  the  tube— ma.xinnim 
diameter,  ().«  inches;  minimnm,  (i.d  inches ;  length,  13.3  inches— and  in  front 
of  that  is  the  key-ring,  which  is  screwed  on  to  the  tube,  and  set  firmly  against 
the  sleeve  diameter  of  key  ring,  (i.5  iiu-hes ;  length,  3  inches.  In  front  of 
that  the  tube  is  unsupported  for  a  length  of  -S-S.T  inches  to  the  muzzle.  All 
the  parts  are  thus  bnunil  securely  together  by  shoulders  and  screw-threads, 
in  a  maimer  which  j.re.sents  no  greater  ditHculty  of  construction  than  the 
shrinkage  of  i)lain,  superposed  cylinders  usually  offers. 

The  powder  chamber  is  elliptical;  the  .shot  chamber,  composed  of  two 
inclines  and  a  straight  surface,  furnishes  a  place  for  the  copper  band  at  the 
rear  end  of  the  shot  to  rest,  the  forward  end  of  the  shot  extending  into  the 
groove  part  of  the  bore,  the  iian<l  liringing  uj)  against  the  lands,  which  are 
beveled  at  their  rear  termination.  The  vent  is  radial,  over  the  middle  of  the 
chamber. 

The  ritiing  is  uniform,  with  a  twist  of  one  turn  in  thirty  calil)res,  or  an' 
angle  of  si.\  degrees.  There  are  twenty-four  grooves  and  lands.  The  total 
length  of  the  i>iece  is  iW.7  inches;  weight,  S03  pounds;  jireponderance  at  end 
of  breech,  57  pounds. 

liirirli  Mirhnii  1.11)1. ~T\\v  breech-block,  0.4.5  inches  long,  by  4.47  inches 
in  diameter,  is  threaded  and  slotted,  three  sections  being  plain  and  three 
with  threads.  The  iiase  ring  in  which  it  works  is  threaded  and  slotted  cor- 
respondingly. One  sixth  of  a  turn,  therefore,  serves  to  lock  or  iiiiluik  the 
block  when  in  its  i)hKe. 

Th(>  last  or  rearmost  thread  on  the  block  is  not  cut  away,  and  this  serves 
the  puri>ose  of  closing  the  rear  face  of  the  breech  against  dirt  and  wet,  and 
acts  as  a  stop  for  the  block  when  it  is  })resscd  into  place.  The  block  is  held 
in  a  swinging  carrier  ring,  1.2  inches  thick,  hinged  at  the  left  side,  which 
allows  the  block  to  be  swung  to  the  left  when  drawn  out,  and  guides  the 
block  in  entering  the  breech  on  dosing,  allowing  the  block  to  be  freely 
turned.  It  serves,  when  closed,  to  fill  the  space  between  the  jacket  atid  the 
block.  This  ring  is  autonmtically  locked  to,  and  unlocked,  bj'  the  motion 
of  the  block  acting  on  a  key-pin.  The  lever  handle  for  turning  the  block,^ 
anil  the  bronze  handle  for  witlulrawing  it,  are  fastened  to  its  rear  end.  Most 
of  the  guns  thus  far  nuide  have  been  provided  with  the  Frej're  (Si)anisli) 
gas  check,  which  was  found  to  be  effective  in  the  experimental  gun;  but  the 
length  of  space  in  rear  of  the  chamber  allows  the  use  of  the  Dc  Bange  (F'rench) 
gas  check,  which  is  equally  effective,  and  this  is  to  be  used  in  some  of  the  guns. 

The  Fni/rt  obturator,  or  gas  check,  placed  in  front  of  the  breech-block, 
terminates  in  a  head  shaped  like  a  truncated  cone,  small  end  towards  the 
rear.  A  gas  check  ring  of  highly  elastic  steel,  formed  to  (it  the  cone  surface 
on  the  insid<',  but  nearly  cylindrical  on  the  outside,  surrounds  this  head  ami 
rests  against  the  breech-block.  The  head  is  not  in  contact  with  the  bldck, 
but  nearly  so,  and  the  distance  can  be  increased  or  diminished  by  the  nuts 
screwed  on  to  the  rear  cml  of  a  spindle  which  passes  through  the  center  of 


War  Department  Exhibit. 


the  breech-})lock.  A  strong  spring  intervenes  to  keeiJ  the  head  away  from 
the  face  of  the  block,  except  when  the  great  pressure  of  the  powder  gases 
presses  it  home,  expanding  the  ehistic  ring  against  the  walls  of  the  powder 
chamber,  and  effectually  cutting  otf  all  escape  of  gas. 

When  the  pressure  is  removed  the  spring  forces  the  head  forward  and 
the  ring  is  allowed  to  contract.  The  expansion  of  the  gas-check  can  thus 
l)e  regulated  to  suit  the  character  of  the  steel  in  the  gas-check  ring. 

The  Freyre  gas-check  closely  resembles  that  used  in  the  Williams  gun 
above  described.  The  latter  differed  only  in  having  a  split  ring  instead  of 
a  continuous  ring,  the  conical  rear  surface  of  the  head  acting  iii  the  same 
manner  to  expand  tiie  ring.  The  Freyre  system  may  therefore  be  considered 
an  American  invention,  as  is  the  case  with  the  slotted  screw  l)reech-block 
itself. 

The  I)c  Ba»ffc  (jns-clin-k  referred  to  works  as  follows:  A  breech-screw 
with  an  interrupted  thread  is  used  as  described  above.  This  is  traversed 
in  tlie  direction  of  its  axis  by  a  spindle  terminating  in  a  head  shaped  like 
a  mushroom.  The  head  receives  the  pressure  of  the  powder  gases,  and  it 
is  supported  by  a  plastic  ring  surrounding  the  spindle  and  interposed  between 
the  head  and  the  face  of  the  breech-screw.  This  ring  is  composed  of  asbestos 
and  tallow,  contained  in  an  envelope  of  cloth  and  sustained  by  two  cni>-shaped 
copi)er  rings.  Tlie  pressure  of  the  head  forces  it  out  laterally  against  the  walls 
of  the  gun  chamber,  so  preventing  the  escape  of  gas. 

The  record  of  the  gun  is  as  follows:  Initial  velocity  of  projectile,  1.635 
feet;  extreme  range,  about  .S>^' miles ;  charge  of  powder,  3^  to  3%  pounds; 
weight  of  shell,  13  pounds;  pressure  of  powder  gases  m  gun,  29,116  pounds 
per  square  inch.  The  Hotchkiss  base  fuze,  described  under  head  of  fuzes, 
is  vised  with  the  shell.  The  steel  forgings  for  these  guns  were  made  at  the 
Midvale  Works,  PJnladelphia.  The  parts  were  finished  and  assembled  for  the 
first  five  guns  at  Watertown  Arsenal,  Mass. ;  for  twenty  made  later,  at  the 
West  Point  Foundry,  Cold  Spring,  N.  Y.  Future  work  of  this  kind  will  be 
done  in  the  new  gun  shops  at  Watervliet  Arsenal,  West  Troy,  N.  Y. 

From  West  Point. 

30.  Buffington  Field-Giin  Carriage. 

Tlia  carriage  for  the  gun  above  described,  and  on  which  it  is  mounted,  is 
made  of  steel.  The  principal  parts  are  the  two  flasks,  connected  by  tran- 
soms, and  the  lunette ;  the  two  axle-plates,  upper  and  lower ;  the  axle-tree ; 
the  wheel-brakes ;  the  wheels ;  the  elevating  apparatus,  and  the  seats  and 
steps.  Each  flask  is  formed  by  riveting  together  two  plates  with  curved 
margins.  The  cross-section  of  the  margin  from  the  vicinity  of  the  trunnion- 
beds  to  the  tool-box  is  approximately  semi-circular,  the  center  of  the  semi- 
circle being  in  the  plane  of  the  inner  surface  of  the  plate.  The  cross  section 
varies  for  the  inner  and  outer  plates,  as  the  margin  of  the  latter  is  prolonged 
in  a  direction  tangent  to  the  circle  until  it  envelops  the  margin  of  the  former 
for  a  portion  of  its  length.  The  formation  of  this  curved  margin  by  a  single 
stroke  illustrates  a  remarkable  use  by  Col.  Buffington  of  the  drop-hammer  for 
very  heavy  work.  Two  large  cast-iron  dies  are  used,  shaped  to  give  the  outer 
and  inner  curves  required.  The  plate,  cut  to  proper  shape  and  heated,  is 
placed  on  one  die,  and  the  other  is  dropped  upon  it  by  means  of  a  steam 
hammer. 


lo  JVar  Department  Exhibit. 


Tlie  truimioii-l>e(li^  arc-  n-inforced  liy  bars  of  steel,  which  are  inclosed  be- 
tw.-L-a  the  iiiarf,'ins  of  the  Hask  plates  and  riveted  to  tlieni.  There  are  three 
front  transoms,  npi-er,  lower,  and  rear,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  trunnion-l)eds 
an.l  axli-i>iates.  and  three  trail  transoms  at  intervals  between  the  axle-phites 
and  the  lunette.  The  axle-plates,  two  in  number,  which  envelop  the  axle-tree. 
are  made  from  plates  formed  by  dies  under  a  steam  hammer.  To  in.sure 
an  accurate  tit,  these  plates  are  planed,  bolted  tofiether.  and  bored  out. 
The  axle-tree  havinj.'  been  turneil  to  a  true  cylinder,  the  plates  are  riveted 
abtiut  it.  The  shouhler  washers  are  oetafjonal  in  form;  to  each  is  (itt  d  a 
collar  or  iumd  contuiniuK  a  stout  eye.  to  which  the  brakes  arc  attached. 
These  collars  have  projections  that  embrace  the  axle-plates  above  and  below, 
to  prevent  turning,' of  the  axle  within  the  plates.  The  )»rakes  supplied  with 
this  carriaj^'c  were  formed  like  a  double-bo.v  ;  priiifj.  and  furnished  with  a 
device  for  detachinj,'  them  if  necessary,  when  the  wheel  is  locked.  The  axle- 
seals  are  mounted  on  Hat  si)rin<,'s  and  jirovided  witli  .steps.  The  elevating 
ai)paratus  is  that  which  was  used  with  the  carriage  constructed  at  Water- 
vleit  Arsenal.  The  elevating  screw  guide  is  secured  to  the  under  side  of  the 
upper  front  transom.  A  later  form,  introduced  liy  Col.  Buttington,  gives  the 
elevation  by  means  of  lazy  tongs  operated  by  a  vertical  screw.  This  form 
does  not  require  any  i)rojection  below  the  carriage,  and  the  carriage  is  .so  con- 
structed in  other  respects  as  to  leave  a  clear  space  below  the  level  of  the 
axles,  to  pa.ss  over  obstrutrtions  without  touching.  The  total  weight  of  the 
carriage  complete,  including  steps,  wheels,  and  brakes,  is  l.aOl  lbs. 

Thv  liiiihrrwUl  have  a  steel  body  with  wooden  amnmnition  chest,  opening 
at  the  toj)  like  the  present  ammunition  chests,  steel  chests  opening  in  rear  be- 
ing found  by  experiment  to  be  midesirable.  The  inside  dimensions  of  cliest 
are:  Length,  42'K  inches ;  width,  21  inches;  depth,  0  inches.  It  is  divided 
into  three  compartments,  the  end  ones  10  inches  wide,  for  21  projectiles  in 
each,  the  middle  one  for  cartridges  42  in  nuuibcr.  Projectiles  stand  on  their 
bases,  in  s<iuare  compartments,  separated  by  coi)per  iilates.  The  points  of 
the  in-ojectiles  are  held  in  place  by  the  cover  when  closed.  A  chest  lilled 
with  dummy  projectiles  and  cartridges  is  shown  with   the  gun   and  carriage. 

Till-  cdissoii  body  will  l)e  of  steel,  and  will  serve  for  the  traveling  forge,  the 
chests  for  the  forge  being  of  same  dimensions  as  the  anununition  chest. 

,1  po/7(////>' /'/(Y/r,  made  of  dimensions  to  lit  in  this  box,  is  shown  in  tlic 
exhibit  in  connection  with  the  gun  and  carriage.  Instead  of  tu'llows  a 
blower  is  used,  (ii)erated  liy  a  crnidc.  ("arringe  from  Natiunal  .\rniiiiy. 

ol.   Five-inch    Steel     I5reec]i     I.oiidiiii:-   Sieiic   (Jnn.    e.xperi- 

lueiital. 

This  is  represented  by  its  shot,  cast-iron,  weighing  4:5  pounds.  Tlic  gun  is 
built  up  after  the  manner  of  the  ;i. 2-inch  held  gun.  The  whole  length  of  the 
gini  is  14.'i..'V)  inches;  weight,  M.OiiO  pounds ;  ])re[)onderani'e  at  eml  of  breech, 
27o,V2  pounds;  rifling  tuiiform  ;  twist,  1  turn  in  :^5  calibres,  angle  5  (leg.,  9 
nun.;  nundter  of  grooves  and  lands.  .12.  I'lic  powder  chamber  is  cylindri- 
cal, terminated  in  front  by  a  curved  surface.  The  shot  chamber,  composed 
of  a  cylindrical  and  a  conical  surface.  The  vent  is  axial,  through  the  obtu- 
rator sjiindle.     The  French  breech-screw  is  used,  witli  the  DelJange  obturator 


War  Department  Exhibit. 


descriliecl  under  steel  field  gun.  The  powder  charge  is  12^/^  i)Ounds  ;  velocity  ob- 
tained, 1815  feet  per  sectmd.  Tlie  projectile,  like  that  for  the  8.2-inch  ritle,  has 
a  copper  band  set  in  a  groove  cut  near  the  base  to  give  rotation,  this  band  be- 
ing forced  into  the  grooves  in  firing.  This  gun  is  intended  to  replace  the. 
434-inch  muzzle-loading  cast-iron  siege  rifie  of  the  service.  The  new  gun  is 
mounted  on  a  steel  carriage  designed  by  Capt.  Chas.  Shaler,  Ordnance 
Dept.,  U.  S.  A.  Shot  received  from  Ordnance  Proving  Ground. 

32.  Eiij;ht-inch  Breech- Loading  Steel  Kitie. 

This  is  represented  l)y  its  cast-iron  cored  shot,  weighing  285  pounds. 
Thf  gun  is  built  up  after  the  manner  of  the  3.2-inch,  and  the  5-inch 
B.  L.  Steel  Rifles  before  explained.  (See  30-31  above).  The  gun  is  30  cal- 
ibres, 20  feet  long,  and  weighs  13  tons.  It  fires  a  projectile  weigh- 
ing 285  pounds  with  a  chai-ge  of  100  pounds  of  slow-burning  powder. 
The  rifling  has  an  increasing  twist,  beginning  with  one  turn  in  70  calibres 
at  the  origin,  and  increasing  to  one  turn  in  25  calibres,  16  inches  from  the 
muzzle,  and  thence  a  uniform  twist,  with  the  same  pitch,  to  the  muzzle. 
The  number  of  grooves  and  lands  is  45;  width  of  grooves,  0.39;  lands,  0.17. 
The  volume  of  the  powder  chamber  is  3,107  cubic  inches.  The  French 
lireech-block  is  used,  swinging  to  the  right  in  opening.  It  has  the  DeBange 
gas  check  (see  30).  The  vent  is  axial,  through  the  obturator  spindle,  as  in 
the  5-inch  rifle,  diameter  of  vent,  0.2.  The  forward  end  is  bushed  with  cop- 
per, and  tapering  to  a  diameter  of  0.1  at  the  orifice.  At  first  the  ordinary 
primer  was  used,  but  it  is  now  fitted  to  use  the  obturating  primer,  either 
friction  or  electric.     The  steel  tube  for  this  gun  was  made  abroad. 

In  firing  this  gun  the  new  brown  prismatic  powder,  made  by  Messrs. 
Du  Pont,  has  been  used,  and  trials  have  also  been  made  with  increased 
charges  of  German  brown  poM'der.  With  a  charge  of  110  pounds,  a  muzzle 
velocity  of  1,878  feet  per  second  is  obtained,  with  a  pressure  in  the  chamber 
of  .36,000  pounds  to  the  square  inch.  The  carriage  used  with  this  gun  is 
the  10-inch  proof-carriage,  recently  constructed  at  the  West  Point  Foundry; 
it  is  adapted  to  the  8-inch  gun  by  the  insertion  of  the  steel  trunnion  rings, 
which  rest  in  the  trvinuion  beds.  The  projectile  has  a  copper  band  set  in  a 
groove,  cut  near  the  Ijase,  to  give  rotation ;  this  band  being  forced  into  the 
grooves  in  firing.  The  gun  has  been  fired  over  1,000  rounds  with  no  trace  of 
erosion  of  bore  by  the  powder  gases.  The  ballistic  results  from  this  gun,  that 
is,  the  energy  developed  in  the  projectile,  exceed  the  published  results  with 
any  gun  of  like  calibre  extant.  (See  appendixes  Nos.  17  and  20.  Report 
Chief  of  Ordnance,  1886,  and  Report  for  1887.) 

33.  The  12-ineh  Cast-iron  Breech-Loading  Rifle. 

This  is  represented  by  its  cast-iron  cored  shot,  weighing  800  pounds.  The 
gun  is  made  of  cast-iron,  with  a  breech  bushing  of  steel,  and  it  is  provided 
with  the  interrupted  screw  fermeture.  The  exterior  outline  conforms  close! j' 
to  the  Rodman  model.  The  weight  of  the  gun  complete  is  54  tons.  The 
projectile  has  a  copper  band  similar  to  those  previousl.y  described.  (See 
30-1-2.)  The  powder  charge  is  265  pounds  of  brown  prismatic  powder.  The 
total  length  of  gun  is  30  feet.     Tlie  rifling  is  polygroove,  with  an  ecpial  num- 


War  Department  Exhibit. 


her  of  lands  and  grooves;  the  twist  is  first  increasing,  and  then  uniform  to 
the  muzzle.  The  vent  is  axial  and  coincident  with  the  axis  of  the  spindle. 
A  vent  bushing  is  placed  in  the  front  end  of  the  mushroom  head  of  the 
spindle.  Dummy  cartridges  are  shown  by  the  side  of  the  shot.  With 
powder  pressures  less  tlian  3,<X)0  pounds  per  square  inch  on  an  average  of 
100  rounds,  erosions  of  the  bore  began  at  the  fiftieth  round,  and  became 
pronounced  at  the  ninety-sixth  round.  After  firing  137  rounds  the  chamber 
and  rifle  bore  became  so  badly  eroded  that  firing  was  suspended,  and  the 
result.-*  with  a  similar  gun  lined  with  steel  are  awaited.  It  is  doubtless  the 
case  that  in  the  future,  for  the  higher  power  guns,  cast  iron  will  be  aban- 
doned, except  for  emergencies  requiring  more  rapid  preparation  than  the 
making  of  steel  guns  allows,  but  it  has  been  of  obvious  utility  to  test  the 
possibilities  of  cast-iron  for  heavy  guns.  Twelve-inch  rifled  mortars— cast- 
iron  hooped  with  steel— both  muzzle-loaders  and  breech-loaders,  have  been 
made  and  tried  with  great  success. 


COMPARISON  WITH  LARGEST  EUROPEAN  GUNS. 
The  largest  United  States  Rifle  Shot— weighing  800  pounds— is  placed  in 
the  exhibit  in  a  group  containing  models  of  the  projectiles  for  the  100-ton 
Italian  guns,  the  110-ton  English  gun,  and  the  150-ton  gun  now  building  by 
Krupp,  the  latter  projectile,  six  feet  high,  weighing  3,.300  pounds.  The  group 
brings  out  with  striking  distinctness  the  needs  of  the  United  States  in  the 
development  of  the  manufacture  of  steel,  which  is  now  alone  used  in  making 
the  heaviest  guns.  Even  the  8-inch  and  12-inch  guns,  made  for  the  U.  S. 
Army,  are  merely  experimental,  and  it  is  onlj-  just  now  that  appropriations 
have  been  made  to  develop  the  manufacture  in  this  country  of  guns  of  such 
comparatively  light  weight.  The  larger  steel  parts  heretofore  used  in  our 
guns  have  had  to  be  brought  from  Europe.  As  an  illustration  of  these  guns, 
which  carry  from  ten  to  twelve  miles,  an  account  is  given  of  the  English 
gun,  the  most  i>owerful  one  yet  completed. 

34.   En<rli.sh    llO-ton    Steel    Gun,  Breech-Loadiiii:;;  <-alil)re, 
16.25  inches. 

Tliis  gun  is  represented  liy  a  wooden  model  of  the  steel  jTojectile.  Weight 
of  projectile,  2,240  pounds;  length.  4'^  feet;  muzzle  velocity,  2,128  feet  per 
second,  with  powder  charge  of  fKX)  pounds;  range,  about  10  miles;  mean 
pressure  in  tons,  per  sijnare  inch,  18.75;  total  energy  at  muzzle  in  foot  tons. 
56,520;  penetration  in  wrought  iron,  3.3.8  inches. 

The  llO-ton  Elswick  gun  is  intended  for  the  armament  of  first-class  ships 
of  war.  It  :s  constructed  entirely  of  steel,  the  inner  tube  being  in  one  length. 
Over  the  inner  tube  is  shrunk  the  breech  piece,  which  is  surrounded  by 
three  layers  of  comparatively  thin  hoops  of  steel.  In  this  manner  the  whole 
of  the  metal  assists  in  bearing  the  transverse  strain.  The  inner  tube  extends 
only  to  the  obturator,  or  l.i- b-biock.  which  engages  in  the  breech  piece. 


War  Department  Exhibit.  13 

the  longitudinal  strain  being  partly  borne  by  this  piece,  assisted  by  the 
peculiar  distrilnition  of  the  hoops.  A  long  hoop  with  stout  shoulders  forms 
the  rear  part  of  the  first  layer,  and  its  front  shoulder  engages  the  rear  shoulder 
of  another  long  hoop,  which  forms  the  front  part  of  the  second  layer.  Again 
the  "trunnion  hoop,"  so  called,  is  shrunk  on  in  such  a  manner  as  to  draw 
the  long  hoops  of  the  first  and  second  layers  together.  Hence,  there  is  a  direct 
pull  from  tlie  trunnion  hoop  to  the  shoulder  on  the  breech  piece,  all  parts 
being  solidly  bound  together  against  longitudinal  strain.  There  are,  in 
reality,  no  trunnions,  the  exterior  of  the  trunnion  hoop  being  formed 
with  rings,  over  which  a  strong  steel  band  passes  and  ties  the  gun  to  its 
carriage.  To  prevent  the  inner  tube  from  moving  forward  from  the  breech 
piece,  a  ring  of  bronze  alloy  is  run  into  a  serrated  recess  at  the  front  of  tlie 
latter.  A  similar  ring  is  used  to  assist  friction  in  keeping  the  front  of  the 
trunnion  hoop  in  place. 

The  principal  dimensions  of  the  gun  are  as  follows :  Total  length,  524 
inches;  length  of  bore,  487  inches ;  length  of  rifiing,  397  inches;  diameter  of 
bore,  16.25  inches;  diameter  of  chamber,  21.125  inches;  cubical  capacity  of 
chamber,  28.610  cubic  inches ;  weight  of  gun,  247,795  pounds. 

Ohturator. — In  the  "obturator"  or  means  of  stopping  the  escape  of  gas, 
a  modification  of  the  De  Bange  pad,  made  by  Mr.  Vavasseur  of  the  Elswick 
firm,  is  under  trial.  The  asbestos  pad  is  retained,  but  it  is  covered  with 
a  thin  sheath  of  copper,  which  is  forced  by  compression  on  discharge  of  the 
gun  into  close  contact  with  the  inner  tube. 

Carriage. — The  gun  is  mounted  on  a  heavy  frame  of  steel,  which  forms 
a  carriage.  The  carriage  moves  backward  and  forward  on  two  stout  steel 
girders,  forming  the  slide,  the  ram  of  the  recoil  press  passing  through  the 
lower  part  of  the  carriage,  and  being  fixed  thereto.  The  slide-girders  are 
pivoted  at  the  front,  so  that  the  motion  of  recoil  is  always  parallel  to  their 
upper  surface.  All  the  operations  of  working  the  gun  are  performed  by  hy- 
draulic power.  The  elevation  or  depression  of  the  gun  and  slide  is  performed 
l.iy  means  of  hydraulic  rams  under  each  slide-girder.  Pressure  is  also  admitted 
to  one  side  or  other  of  the  recoil  cylinder,  according  as  it  is  desired  to  run  the 
gun  in  or  out.  To  turn  the  gun  in  a  horizontal  direction  it  is  necessary  to 
rotate  the  platform  or  turret  by  means  of  hydraulic  engines,  acting  on  pinions 
in  circular  racks  surrounding  its  base.  By  means  of  hydraulic  lireech 
mechanism  the  breech-l)lock  is  unscrewed  and  moved  aside,  while  the  shot 
and  charge  are  forced  into  the  bore  or  breech  chamber  by  the  hydraulic  ram- 
mer; thel)reecli-block  is  then  similarly  returned  to  its  normal  position.  The 
shot  and  cartridge  are  raised  from  the  magazine  by  an  hydraulic  lift,  so  as 
to  deliver  the  ammtmition  at  the  level  of  the  loading  tray,  and  between  the 
breech  and  rammer.  The  900-pound  charge  for  the  110-ton  gun  is  composed 
of  two  cartridges  of  prismatic  form,  38  inches  long  by  18  inches.  The  first 
cartridge  or  portion  of  the  charge  is  closely  filled  with  powder,  but  the  second 
portion  is  arranged  with  a  cylindrical  space*  for  receivings  some  fjuick  firing 
powder  for  properly  igniting  the  whole  of  the  charges.  The  total  length  of  the 
charge  or  combined  cartridge  is  six  feet  four  inches.  Slow-burning,  brown 
prisn^atic  powder  is  used  for  the  charge,  composed  of  hexagonal  pebbles  or 
cubes   of  ai)Out   lU  inches  in  diameter.     These  cartridges   are  transi)orte<l 


14 


Uar  Depatimcnt  Exhibit. 


from  j.hice  to  place,  r.  fj..  from  the  inafxazine  to  amiimnition  lift,  in  a  water 
ami  lire  proof  metallic  case. 

Model  of  sliot  furnished  tiirough  couitesy  of  Major  Clifton  Coiuly, 
Ordnance  Department.  Mo.lel  of  Italian  ^<hot  from  West  Point.  Model  of 
Knipp  sliot  constructed  for  ilhistration. 

DEPRESSING   CARRIAGES  AND   ARMORED   TURRETS 

FOR   PROTECTION  OF   GUNS. 
M.').  DeKiissy's  Counlerpoise  Depressini;-  Gun-Carriage. 

Model.  This  carria^'e  was  devised  about  the  year  1835,  by  the  late  Brig. 
Oen.  R.  K.  De  Russy,  Corps  of  Engineers.  The  top  carriage  rests  in  front 
on  the  eccentric  axle  of  a  pair  of  large  wheels,  the  rear  end  resting  on  small 
wheels  ruiniing  on  curved  wooden  braces.  In  the  firing  position  the  a.xle 
is  in  its  highest  position.  an<l  the  small  wheels  on  the  highest  point  of  the 
braces,  the  gun  pointing  over  the  parapet.  As  the  gun  recoils  the  wheels 
roll  hackward  on  cogged  rails,  carrying  the  axle  to  its  lowest  position,  and 
the  truck  wheels  move  to  the  bottom  of  the  braces,  the  recoil  being  partly 
taken  uj)  by  a  counterpoise  of  metallic  spokes  on  the  main  wheels,  oppo- 
site the  axle,  and  partly  hy  frictional  appliances.  The  depression  of  the  gun 
in  recoil  brings  it  under  the  shelter  of  the  parapet  from  direct  fire  of  the 
enemy,  and  jirotccts  the  gunners  in  loading.  The  gun  is  run  into  battery 
hy  a  windlass  and  chain,  the  counterpoise  assisting.  It  will  be  seen  this 
carriage  embodies  the  principle  which  Captain  Montcrieff  has  lately  em- 
ployed in  the  construction  of  his  depressing  carriages. 

Property  of  Major  W.  R.  King,  Corps  of  Engineers.     From  West  Point. 

80.  King's  Counterpoise  Depressing  Gnn-Carriage. 

Model.  Devised  by  Major  W.  K.  King,  Corps  of  Engineers,  U.  S.  A.  In 
this  carriage  the  chassis  rails  on  which  the  top  carriage  rests  slope  downward 
to  the  rear,  at  an  angle  of  about  eighteen  degrees,  so  that  flie  top  carriage 
slides  down  during  the  i-ecoil,  carrying  the  gun  below  the  level  of  the  parapet. 
The  chassis  swings  on  a  front  pintle,  which  is  made  hollow.  A  wire  rope 
attached  to  the  lower  part  of  the  lop  carriage  passes  over  a  pulley  and  down 
through  the  hollow  pintle  to  a  counterpoise  weight  in  a  well  below  the  pintle. 
The  movement  of  the  gun  to  tbe  rear  lifts  this  counterpoise.  When  the 
gun  is  "'in  battery"  the  rope  draws  nearly  at  right  angles  to  the  chassis, 
gradually  changing  its  angles  as  the  piece  runs  back,  until  finally,  before 
the  gun  stops,  it  draws  parallel.  By  this  means,  combined  with  the  elasticity 
of  the  counterpoise  system,  the  shock,  or  very  sudden  motion  communicated 
to  the  gun  and  top  carriage  by  firing,  is  mvich  more  gradually  transmitted 
to  the  counterpoise,  the  strain  upon  the  rope  being,  in  fact,  almost  constant. 
The  necessary  elasticity  of  the  counterpoise  system  is  obtained  by  the  rope 
of  steel  wire,  and  Ity  making  the  counterpoise  in  sections,  with  disks  of 
rubber  lietwcen  them.  Cranks  and  endless  chains  at  the  sides  of  the  chassis 
furnish  a  means  of  maneuvering  the  gun  when  not  firing,  or  when  the  recoil 
or  counteri)oise  do  not  complete  their  work.  The  recoil  of  the  gun  when 
fired  carries  it  down  tlu'  inclined  rails  to  the  loading  ]>osition.  where  it  is  held 


War  Department  Exhibit.  15 

by  friction  due  to  its  own  weig'ht.  When  thrown  "in  gear,"  by  turning  the 
hand-wheels  at  the  side  of  the  top  carriage,  the  weight  of  the  gun  coming 
upon  the  truck-wheels,  the  counterpoise  overcomes  the  rolling  friction  and 
runs  the  gun  up  to  the  firing  position.  The  gun  is  traversed  in  the  ordinary 
manner,  and  the  elevation  is  given  l)y  the  hand-wheels  above  mentioned. 
One  advantage  of  this  system  i.s  that  it  can  be  constructed  from  tlie 
ordinary  carriage  by  lowering  the  rear  of  the  chassis,  raising  the  front,  and 
slightly  modifying  the  sha])e  of  the  top  carriage.  It  is  suited  to  guns  of  the 
largest  calibre. 

Furnished  with  other  niddcls  from  WMllet's  Point,  tln-ougb  the  courtesy 
of  Major  King. 

37.  Early  forms  oi"  Iron  Armor  for  l*rotection  of  Guns. 

Two  very  interesting  models  are  shown  illustrating  devices  of  General 
J.  G.  Totten  and  GeiU'ral  .Tohn  Newton,  Corps  of  Engineers,  U.  S.  Army, 
and  showing  that  armor  for  forts  engaged  the  attention  of  the  Engineer  of- 
ficers of  our  arniy  long  l>efoi'e  anything  was  adopted  abroad.  These  arc 
shields  for  heavy  guns,  nuule  up  of  horiz(mtal  layers  of  wrought-iron  bars, 
each  of  the  upper  layers  set  a  little  further  back  than  the  layer  beneath. 
General  Newton's  device  is  a  revolving  turret,  gun  carriage  and  turret  made 
to  revolve  about  the  same  center.  General  Totten's  device  is  a  stationary 
shield  with  a  revolving  piece  containing  the  embrasure,  and  intended  for 
guns  mounted  on  carriages  made  to  swing  on  a  pivot  at  the  muzzle  end. 
This  may  be  regarded  as  a  forerunner  of  the  Krupp  muzzle  pivoted  gun, 
fastened  to  the  shield  by  a  perforated  spherical  block  which  allows  the  gun 
to  be  pointed  as  desired.  This  system  of  armor  was  devised  before  practical 
methods  of  making  thick  plates  of  iron  or  steel  had  been  found. 

Willct's  Point. 

38.  Gruson  Kevolviiiii  Turret. 

Model  of  fort  for  land  defense.  This  shows  one  form  of  the  modern  tur- 
rets for  protection  of  guns.  The  part  of  turret  projecting  above  the  ground 
is  of  dome  shape,  presenting  an  inclined  surface  to  the  enemy's  shot,  instead 
of  having  vertical  sides  like  the  Ericsson  Monitor  turret.  It  rotates  on  a  live 
roller  running  on  a  roller  path  fixed  to  the  foundation.  This  dome  is  com- 
posed of  thick  plates  of  chilled  cast  iron,  grooved  and  fastened  together. 
The  very  complete  working  model  shown  was  sent  from  the  office  of  the 
Board  of  Engineers,  U.  S.  Army,  through  the  courtesy  of  its  President,  Gen- 
eral Casey  (now  Chief  of  Engineers).  It  was  presented  to  the  Board  by 
.Tulius  Von  Schutz,  Engineer  of  the  Gruson  works  in  Germany.  The  model 
shows  two  heavy  breech-loading  guns  in  position,  and  machinery  is  provided, 
concealed  below  the  armor,  for  revolving  the  turret,  raising  and  lowering  the 
guns,  etc.  The  especial  peculiarity  of  the  gun  carriage  here  used  lies  in  the 
arrangement  for  changing  the  elevation,  leaving  the  muzzle  nearly  stationary, 
and  allowing  the  use  of  a  very  small  embrasure.  This  is  accomplished  by 
raising  or  lowering  the  guns  at  the  trunnions,  instead  of  simply  turning  them 
about  the  trunnions. 


1 6  War  Department  Exhibit. 


STATIONARY     AND     MOVABLE     TORPEDOES. 

As  iiiiiiortiiiil  acMiiioiis  In  tin-  protection  aflordcil  In-  lu-av}'  guns,  tor- 
pi'dtx'.s  art-  arraiifji'd  in  tliis  class. 

oH.   Slafioiiary  Torpedoes  lor  Deleuse  ol'  Harbors. 

Moilclsof  I inoyant  torpedoes  shown  in  a  large  tank  to  illustrate  method 
ol'  plaiiMf,'  llieni  in  the  water  according  to  the  system  devised  by  General 
II.  L.  Ahhott,  ("or))s  of  Engineers,  U.  S.  A.,  in  wliich  the  torpedoes  arc  tired 
fruni  the  shore  liy  means  of  an  electric  cable.  They  can  be  exploded  in 
groups  of  three,  each  group  iiaving  a  separate  connection  with  tlie  l)attery  on 
sliore;  the  wire  from  each  torpedo  of  any  one  group  passes  to  a  small  box, 
wliere  they  unite  and  pass  to  a  larger  box,  and  in  tlie  latter  the  wires  from  the 
dirterent  groui)s,  though  insuhited  from  each  otlier,  are  formed  into  a  single 
cable  connecting  with  the  shore.  When  a  vessel  touches  a  torpedo  the  shock 
causes  electric  connection  to  be  made,  sending  a  signal  to  the  operator  and 
warning  him  when  to  explode  any  group  l)y  jiassing  a  strong  current  through 
the  wire.  They  can  be  made  automatic,  to  explode  at  once.  Loaded 
with  dynamite,  they  play  an  important  part  in  our  defenses  where  they  can 
be  placed  under  range  of  the  guns.  Torpedoes  serve  as  aids  to  other  arma- 
ment, and  delay  hostile  ships  where  the  high  power  gun  can  reach  them,  but 
when  unjjrotected  by  guns  from  the  sliore  the  enemj^  have  time  to  remove 
them  and  jtass  in  safety.  Note  the  developments  made  in  the  torpedo  since  the 
war  of  the  Rebellion,  as  shown  by  several  rebel  torpedoes  described  further 
on.     Models  made  by  Sergeant  Nulty.  Engineer  Battalion. 

Furnished  liy  Major  King,  Willet's  Point. 

10.  An  S-iiu'li  Dynamite  Projectile  lor  the  Pneumatic  T)y- 
namite  Torpedo  Gun  is  shown  as  the  most  striking  ex- 
anii)lc  of  movable  torpedoes,  others  of  this  class  moving 
througli  the  water,  wliile  this  moves  through  the  air. 

The  special  feature  of  this  torpedo  is  the  electric  fuze  invented  by  Capt. 
Zalinski,  Fifth  U.  S.  Artillery,  to  whose  efforts  is  due  the  success  of  the  gun, 
originally  invented  by  Mr.  MefTord,  of  Ohio.  The  fuze  is  concealed  in  the 
torpedo,  and  it  becomes  active  only  when  wet  by  the  submergence  of  the  tor- 
pedo in  the  water.  Though  called  a  "'gun,"  it  is  not  claimed  that  the  great 
"  an-  gun  "  from  which  the  torpedo  is  thrown  has  the  power  or  range  of  pow- 
der guns,  which  will  send  projectiles  weighing  from  eight  hundred  to  thirty- 
three  hundred  pounds  distaiu'cs  of  eight  to  twelve  miles,  nor  that  it  can  re- 
l>lace  them,  but  that  it  will  be  a  powerful  adjunct  in  defense  by  affording 
means  of  thrt)wing  a  torpedo  with  considerable  accuracy  for  a  mile  or  two. 

A  gun  of  fifteen  inches  calibre  to  throw  six  hundred  pounds  of  explosive 
gelatitu',  has  recently  been  niadc. 

Kcccivcd  through  the  courtesy  of  Capt.  Zalinski. 


VOLLEY  GUNS  AND  MACHINE  GUNS. 


'i'hough  even  in  the  days  of  matchlocks,  examples  are  found  in 
which  several  guns  of  small  calibre  were  attached  to  the  same  stock 
and  fired  successively  by  the  same  man;  the  first  employment  of 
guns  of  this  class  in  war  was  that  of  the  French  Mitrailleuse,  now 
obsolete.  It  is  illustrated  in  the  exhibit  by  description  and  draw- 
ings. The  machine  gun  possesses  the  advantage  over  volley  guns 
of  giving  a  constant  succession  of  shots  by  automatic  re-loading,  and 
some  guns  combine  the  advantages  of  both  systems. 

These  guns  are  usually  of  comparatively  small  calibre,  firing 
small  arm  cartridges,  and  they  are  either  mounted  as  wall  pieces 
or  placed  on  carriages  like  field  guns.  They  are  here  classed,  there- 
fore, as  intermediate  between  cannon  and  hand  fire-arms. 

1.  P^rencli  Mitrailleuse.     Represented  in  the  exhibit  l)y  de- 

scription and   drawings   received  from   the   Ordnance 
Office. 

This  gun  had  twenty-five  barrels  grouped  in  parallel  rows  of  five,  all  ter- 
minating at  the  rear  in  one  slot  in  the  breech  casing  for  the  reception  of  a 
movable  breech-block,  having  short  cartridge  chambers  corresponding  to  the 
different  barrels.  Several  of  these  blocks  could  be  loaded  up  in  advance,  and 
after  the  shots  were  discliarged  from  one  it  would  be  removed  and  another 
substituted.  Each  barrel  had  a  separate  firing  pin,  and  these  pins  were  re- 
leased in  succession  by  meclianism  operated  by  a  crank. 

2.  Yandenbnrgh  Volley  Gun  ;  obsolete  ;  weight,  663  pounds. 

Said  to  be  of  English  nuinufacture,  and  to  have  been  captured  from  the 
Confederates.  It  consists  of  eighty-five  barrels,  calibre  .46  inch,  grouped  in  a 
cylindrical  casing  of  bronze.  A  breech  piece,  with  corresponding  muzzle-load- 
ing cartridge  chambers,  copper-lined,  tits  in  rear,  this  piece  being  attached  to 
a  hinge  and  slide,  and  having  an  independent  screw  block  at  the  outer  end 
to  screw  into  the  casing  from  the  rear.  After  firing,  the  block  had  to  be  un- 
screwed, pulled  out  and  swung  down.  The  chambers  were  then  separately 
re-loaded,  the  breech  closed,  and  all  the  charges  fired  at  once  by  a  percussion 
cap  in  rear.  The  copper-lining  of  the  chambers  projects  a  little  from  the 
block  to  fit  into  the  barrels  and  serve  as  gas  check.  From  West  Point. 


i8  /r<//-  Department  Exhibit. 


:>.   Iic(iii;i  HalttM-y  (niii;  «-:ilii»re,  .53;  obsolete. 

For  siinultaDcuiis  .lisclwirfXf  ni'  tweiity-tive  barrels.  The  barrels  are  plaeed 
side  by  side  in  tlie  same  i>laiie.  an<l  loaded  successively  at  the  breech  with 
paper  aimiuinitinn.  The  breech  action  gives  a  very  firm  support  against  the 
sliock  of  dis.har^'c.  All  the  barrels  are  closed  by  a  single  sliding  plate,  which 
is  .supported  liy  aimtlier  plate  hinged  to  its  rear  etlge,  the  free  edge  resting 
against  a  shoidder  on  the  frame  of  the  gun  when  the  breech  i)late  is  pushed 
forward.  The  hinged  plate  is  ojicrated  by  a  lever  working  in  a  vertical 
jdane  ]iaralli'l  to  the  line  of  lire.  The  lever  is  hinged  to  the  frame  and  to  the 
rear  end  of  the  hinged  i>late.  so  that  pulling  the  lever  backward  raises  the 
plate  over  the  supporting  shoulder,  and  jjulls  it  to  the  rear.  The  breech 
plate  and  hingeil  ]ilate  cmistitute  i>ra(tically  a  broad  breech-ldock  and  lock- 
ing cam,  like  that  used  in  the  Springlichl  lueech-loading  rille,  except  that  the 
breech  i)late,  instead  of  being  hinged  to  the  Ijarrels  at  the  front,  like  the 
breech  block  of  the  Springlield.  is  made  to  slide  backward  and  forward.  The 
gun  failed  with  ]>aper  cartridges  for  want  t)f  a  proper  gas-check,  but  for  me- 
tallic case  cartridges  the  breech  system  would  answer  for  guns  of  the  type  of 
the  Nordenfeldt.  The  barrels  can  be  brought  together  at  the  muzzle  or  spread 
ai)art  as  desired  by  a  lever  below.  Used  at  the  siege  of  Fort  Wagner,  f^outh 
Carolina.  From  .Springfield  Armory. 

4.  (iiithrie  and  J.ee  Machine  (Jnn;  calibre,  .45;  obsolete. 

Two  barrels  are  ti.xed  to  the  frame.  At  right  a.igles  to  their  length  travels 
a  breech-block,  to  which  by  the  action  of  the  hand-lever  a  horizontal  recip- 
rocal motion  is  given.  By  this  movement  chambers  in  the  block  are  brought 
first  opposite  the  barrels  and  then  opposite  loading  troughs  Ijy  the  side  of  the 
barrels  and  in  front  of  the  block.  Cartridges  are  i)laced  singly  by  haid  in 
these  troughs,  and  pistons  force  the  cartridges  automatically  into  the  cham- 
ber. When  the  chandjers  come  opposite  the  barrels,  the  charge  is  fired  by  a 
concealed  lock.  The  loading  troughs  and  pistons  are  interesting  pieces  of 
mechanism.     No  record  of  this  gnu  is  accessible.  From  West  Point. 

5.  riiioii    lv('|K',ii  jiii:  Ivillc  (inn.  or  CoU'ee   31111  (inn;  .•single 

liaifcl:  cilihre,  .58;  obsolete. 

Short,  muzzle-loading  barrel.'!,  or  chamber  pieces,  with  an  a.vial  nipple  at 
tlie  rear,  are  used  to  hold  the  charges.  A  number  of  these  are  loaded  and 
capped,  and  fed  by  means  of  a  hopper  u]Kin  a  fluted  cylinder,  which  re- 
volves and  brings  the  cViarges  in  succession  in  rear  of  the  long  barrel,  paus- 
ing long  enough  to  allow  the  charge  to  be  fired.  A  wedge-shaped  block, 
moving  verticall.v  in  rear,  forces  each  small  chamber-piece  in  turn  forward 
against  the  rear  of  the  barrel  to  i>revent  escape  of  gas,  and  serves  to  supjiort 
the  recoil.  But  one  lock  is  used,  working  through  a  slot  in  the  block.  After 
firing,  the  chand)er  pieces  arc  carried  round  to  an  o})ening  which  allow.s 
then>  to  fall  out.  They  can  be  re-loaded  and  used  again  indelinitely.  A  crank 
at  the  side  operates  the  Ijrecch  mechanism.  This  gun  was  used  at  the  siege  of 
Petersburg.  From  National  Arniorj\ 


JVar  Department  Exhibit.  19 


(J.   Lowell  ]\Iac]iiiie  (iiiii;  cnlihre,  0.4."). 

Cartridges  arc  fed  from  above  by  means  of  a  vertical  feed  guide,  grooves 
in  the  guide  eatoliing  tlie  Hauge  and  leaving  the  rest  of  the  cartridge 
free.  They  fall  on  a  block  revolving  aliout  an  axis  parallel  to  the  barrel, 
and  <h-ui)  successively  into  grooves  in  the  outer  surface.  Turning  a  crank 
revolves  this  block  and  livings  one  cartridge  aftei'  another  opposite  the 
barrel,  the  block  remaining  stati<iiiary  long  enough  foi'  the  sliding  breech-bolt 
to  push  the  cartridge  into  the  cliambcr  and  draw  out  the  shell  after  firing. 
One  lock  only  is  needed,  and  only  one  bolt.  A  tiring  pin  worked  by  a  spring 
is  released  when  tlie  gun  is  loaded.  This  is  the  first  gun  here  described  using 
metallic  ammunition.  The  gun  has  not  stood  the  tests  of  service.  The  action 
is  jerky  and  irre.t;ular.  Four  parallel  barrels  are  i)rovided  with  this  gun. 
They  are  ari-anged  to  be  turned  around  an  axle.  When  a  barrel  gets  heated 
up  by  liring,  a  new  barrel  is  moved  up,  and  soon. 

From  National  Arjnory. 

7.  (Jai'dner   Machine    (luii;    calibre,    .45;   niauufactured  by 

The  Pratt  cV'  Whitney  Oo.,  Harttord,  Conn. 

This  gun  has  two  barrels  side  liy  side  to  be  fired  alternately.  A  bolt  is 
placed  in  rear  of  each  ban-el,  and  these  bolts  are  actuated  by  cams  on  a  hori- 
zontal shaft  perpendicular  to  them.  This  shaft  is  turned  by  a  handle  at  the 
side,  and  the  cams  are  so  placed  as  to  draw  out  one  bolt  while  pushing  in  the 
other,  releasing  a  firing-pin  on  each  bolt  when  the  corresponding  barrel  is 
loaded.  The  feed  case,  similar  to  that  on  the  Lowell,  is  double,  containing  a 
row  of  cartridges  for  each  barrel,  a  swinging  plate  closing  openings  below  al- 
ternately. The  barrels  are  enclosed  in  a  hollow  sheath  of  bronze,  intended  for 
holding  water  to  prevent  heating  tlie  barrels  too  much  in  firing.  This  is  an 
excellent  gun,  simple  and  effective.  From  National  Armory. 

8.  Improved  (iatlin<;-  Gun  ;    1(1  barrels  ;   calibre,  .45. 

The  barrels  are  fixed  on  a  revolving  frame,  parallel  to  its  axle,  and  they 
are  revolved  by  turning  a  crank  which  can  be  placed  at  the  side  or  rear  of  the 
breech  casing  at  ])leasnre.  The  frame  jirojects  to  the  rear  of  the  barrels  in 
the  form  of  a  drum,  longitudinal  slots  in  the  outer  surface  holding  opposite 
each  barrel  a  sliding  breech-bolt  with  a  spring  firing-pin.  A  curved  lip  on  the 
interior  of  the  stationary  breech  casing  engages  the  bolts,  and  wedges  thera 
forward  and  back  as  the  barrels  revolxc.  When  a  bolt  is  well  drawn  back,  its 
firing-pin  catches  in  another  li[i,  which  holds  it  l)ack  as  the  bolt  moves  for- 
ward. This  compresses  the  firing  spring,  and  the  revolution  carries  the  pin 
to  the  end  of  the  lip,  where  it  is  released  when  the  bolt  is  pushed  home,  and 
so  the  cartridge  is  fired.  Cartridges  fall  successively  in  rear  of  the  barrels 
through  a  mouth  in  the  casing  over  the  position  of  a  barrel  when  the  corres- 
ponding bolt  is  drawn  back.  By  the  forward  and  back  motion  of  the  bolts, 
as  the  barrels  revolve,  first  the  cartridges  are  pushed  into  the  barrels,  and 
then  the  empty  shells  are  drawn  out,  a  spring  hook,  which  projects  beyond 
the  front  of  each  bolt,  acting  as  extractor.  The  operations  of  loading,  firing 
and  extracting  the  shells  are  going  on  in  different  barrels  at  the  same  time 
while  the  barrels  are  revolving.    The  gun  has  a  universal  pis'ot  mounting, 


JVar  Department  Exhibit. 


\vliiili  allows  it  to  be  tuna-fl  in  any  direction  by  tlic  pointing  lever.  Clamps 
sei-ure  it  in  any  position.  Cartridges  arc  supplied  to  the  gun  by  means  of  the 
Bruce  feed  frame,  or  by  the  Aides  feed  drum,  the  old  straight  feed  cases  be- 
ing practically  abandoned. 

77«'  Brnri-  /<•<•(/.  In  this,  a  vertical  frame  fitting  over  the  moutli  holds  a 
swinging  plate,  on  the  front  face  of  which  arc  two  channels  with  undercut 
sides  to  catch  the  flanges  of  the  cartridges.  This  i)latc  can  be  shifted  so  as  to 
bring  these  channels  alternately  over  the  mouth  and  allow  the  columns  of 
cartridges  to  fall  down  by  gravity.  The  ordinary  paper  boxes  in  which  the 
cartridges  come  from  the  arsenals,  holding  twenty  cartridges  in  two  rows,  can 
be  used  as  in  the  (iardncr  gun  for  filling  the  feed  channels.  The  cover  off  the 
bo.\,  the  flanges  of  all  the  cartridges  can  be  slid  into  the  channels,  and  pull- 
ing the  box  forward  leaves  the  cartridges  behind. 

The  Anirs  fWil  tlniiii.  This  holds  the  cartridges  in  spiral  guides  within,  a 
series  of  radial  arms  revolving  together  and  pushing  the  cartridges  towards 
tiie  orifice.  Projections  on  the  revolving  frame  of  the  gun  engage  the  ends  of 
these  arms  and  turn  them  by  a  positive  motion,  without  the  use  of  an  actu- 
ating spring  in  the  drum.  The  drums  hold  about  one  hundred  cartridges, 
and  with  this  attachment  shots  can  be  fired  at  the  rate  of  1200  per  minute. 
The  positive  action  of  the  feed  allows  it  to  be  used  in  firing  at  great  angles  of 
elevation  or  depression  where  a  gravity  feed  would  be  useless. 

From  the  National  Armory. 

'.I.    Holclikiss  .M;icliiiie  (iiiii;    it  Itarrcls  ;    (•;ilil)re,  A'yI. 

The  barrels  arc  fixed  on  a  revolving  frame,  as  in  the  Gatling  gun.  and 
they  are  worked  by  turning  a  crank  at  the  side.  Tlie  crank  shaft  carries  a 
driving  worm  running  half  round  the  cin-umfei-ence,  so  that  the  barrels  re- 
volve only  diu'ing  half  a  turn  of  the  crank.  They  therefore  have  an  inter- 
mittent motion  round  the  axle.  Cartridges  fed  from  a  hopi)er  fall  succes- 
sively in  front  of  the  loading  bolt,  which,  while  a  barrel  is  stationary  in  front 
of  it,  ]>uslu's  a  cartridge  in.  The  revolution  of  the  barrels  brings  them  suc- 
cessively opposite  a  solid  jiart  of  the  breech,  which  supports  the  base  of  the 
eartriilgc.  During  the  pause  of  the  barrel  here,  the  cartridge  is  exploded  by 
a  firing  pin  working  through  tlie  breech.  The  shell  is  carried  on  down  oppo- 
site an  extractor  which  draws  it  out  aiul  lets  it  fall  to  the  ground.  The  opera- 
tions of  loading,  firing  and  extracting  ai"e  jxM-formed  in  different  barrels  at 
the  same  time,  during  the  intermittent  pauses,  l\v  a  single  set  of  parts  answer- 
ing for  all  the  barrels  in  succession.  The  gun  fires  about  150  sliots  a  minute. 
Tlic  system  is  better  suited  to  the  longer  calibres,  as  it  is  hardly  rapid  enough 
for  the  small.  The  solid  support  of  the  cartridge  at  the  moment  of  firing  is  a 
great  advantage,  and  the  pause  of  the  barrel  at  the  same  time  insures  greater 
accuracy.  The  five-barrel  gun.  calibre  \^-^  inches,  fires  60  to  80  times  a  min- 
ute, projectiles  weighing  l];.  pounds. 

10.   The  NofilcMifcIdl   ."Mnrliiiu'  \'()ll('y  (niii. 

This  is  reprcsenlctl  in  the  cxhiliil  only  by  drawings  and  descrijitions. 
From  two  to  seven  barrels  are  arranged  side  by  side  on  a  frame,  as  in  the 
llecjua  battery  above  described.  These  barrels  arc  all  loaded  at  once  by 
means  of  breech  plugs  attached  to  a  sliding  plate  in  rear.   This  plate  is  moved 


J4^ar  Department  Exhibit. 


forward  and  back  by  a  lever  working-  horizontally  on  the  right  hand  side. 
Each  breech  plug  contains  a  firing  pin,  and  behind  the  plug  is  a  hammer  op- 
erated byas])ring.  When  the  lever  is  drawn  back  and  the  breech  plate  is 
])rougiit  to  the  rear,  the  hammers  engage  in  a  sliding  comb  on  the  frame,  and 
at  the  forward  movement  tliey  are  lield  back  and  cocked.  Wiien  the  breech 
is  closed,  the  lever  still  moving  forward  secures  the  Ijreech  piec'C  by  operating 
a  swinging  plate,  which  by  means  of  cam  surfaces  pushes  locking  ])olts  on 
the  breech  plate  into  mortises  in  the  side  frame.  Further  motion  of 
the  lever  slides  the  comli  wliiili  holds  the  hammers,  and  releases 
them  one  after  another.  For  each  barrel  a  feed  case  is  required,  placed  in 
rear  and  a  little  to  the  left.  A  slide  plate  carries  the  cartridges  to  the  right, 
in  front  of  the  l>reech  [)lugs  when  drawn  liack,  and  a  forward  niotion  of  the 
plug  pushes  the  cartridges  into  the  barrels.  All  the  barrels  are  l(>adc(l  at  the 
same  time,  but  fired  separately  tboiigb  in  rapid  succession,  the  interval  of 
fire  from  the  different  barrels  (h  pciidiiig  (in  the  rapidity  of  motion  uf  the 
lever.  The  effect  is,  therefore,  inncticaliy  that  of  a  volley,  but  the  shuck  of 
recoil  is  not  so  great  as  if  all  the  barrels  were  fired  at  once.  Many  of  these 
guns  are  used  in  England,  but  none  are  used  in  this  countrv^ 

11.  The    Maxim   Automatic   Machine  Gun. 

llepresented  only  by  drawings  and  descriptions.  This  gun,  by  tbe  efYect 
of  its  own  recoil  over  a  space  of  only  three-quarters  of  an  inch,  compresses  a 
spring,  and  this,  when  the  pressure  is  released,  operates  mechanism  which 
ejects  the  empty  shell,  draws  a  new  cartridge  to  the  front  of  the  bolt,  forces  it 
into  the  barrel  and  fires  it  automatically,  this  operation  continuing  as  long 
as  cartridges  are  supplied.  The  cartridges  are  placed  in  pockets  on  a  licit 
holding 333  cartridges,  and  sevei'al  belts  can  be  fastened  end  to  end.  The  end 
of  the  belt  is  introduced  into  the  breech  casing  from  the  side,  and  the  belt  is 
drawn  in  as  the  gun  is  fired,  tiie  breech  bolt  passing  through  the  sockets  and 
])ushing  the  cartridges  into  the  barrel.  At  tbe  same  time  water  is  automat- 
ically injected  into  a  casing  around  the  liarrel  to  keep  the  metal  cool.  Si.x 
hundred  shots  per  minute  can  be  fired.  This  is  an  American  invention  de- 
veloped abroad. 

12.  Biiffiug'ton   Steel  C;)rria;i,e  and   Curved   Shield    lor   Ma- 

chine (inns. 

The  carriage  is  formed  of  steel  {)lates,  so  arranged  that  the  body  forms  a 
hollow  a.xle  between  the  wheels.  This  gives  a"oom  for  storing  a  large  supply 
of  cartridges,  instead  of  depending  wholly  on  the  sui>ply  in  the  lindoer  chests. 
The  curved  shape  of  the  shield,  e.xtendiug  uiiwanls  from  the  front  of  the  car- 
riage, gives  greater  protection  to  tlic  gunners,  Init  the  especial  feature  is  the 
arrangement  by  which  the  gun  can  be  aimed  as  desired,  though  the  shield  is 
fi.xed  to  the  carriage,  without  exposing  the  gunners  through  a  wide  ojien- 
ing  for  the  muzzle.  A  square  opeinng  in  the  shield  is  covered  in  front  liy  a 
covered  slide,  free  to  move  laterally,  ;nul  in  tills  .slide  an  opening  the  widtii 
of  the  muzzle  extends  from  top  to  bottom.  Tiiis  oix'ning  in  the  slide  is  cov- 
ered T)y  two  overlapping  disks,  pivoted  centrally  on  either  side  of  the  open- 
ing, these  disks  having  notches  cut  out  where  they  overlap,  the   notches 


War  Department  Exhibit. 


iillowitit;  r.H.m  for  tlio  nmzzU-  to  i.r..lni(lp.     Just  eiiougli  play  i^s  given  to  al- 
low siKhti.i-  tl.roufrl.  tl.o  o|.,.niM-     T1h>  sli.l."  all..vvs  lateral  n.ovenient  of  the 


iniizzlc  ami  the  disks  allow  a  vertical  nioveiueiit  in  any  imsilitin  of  the  slide. 
It  is  intended  to  liave  'i  steel  tiap  hinged  to  the  under  ]iait  i>     the  carriage 


Fifi.  2. 
lilliiig  the  iiiK'nini:  hclow,  and  to  sheathe  the  wlieels  if  neeesssary.     Though  a 
( iatiiii-  -un  is  now  nmiinted  on  this  carriage,  it  is  inteii(h'(l  for  any  gun  that 
needs  t(i  he  pivoted  on  tlu'  t'arriage.  I'miii  (he  XaiiiPiial  Armory- 

13.  New  Liiiil)er  for  ^rachiiie  Gtiiis. 

Constructed  to  use  with  the  Ihithngton   carriage  and  Williston  liarness. 
The  wooden  chest  is  fastened  inrmanently  to  the  frame  and  axle  of  steel. 


War  Department  Exhibit.  23 

The  lid  of  the  che;st,  hin.i;-e(l  in  front,  is  made  of  steel,  and  it  is  intciidcd  when 
raised  to  serve  as  a  shielil  to  protect  men  at  the  chest.  In  front  of  the  chest 
is  a  shelf  with  a  low  iron  railing.  A  donhle-tree  is  used  with  single-trees  at- 
tached. The  pole  has  no  permanent  j^oke  and  no  straps,  but  a  projection  a 
little  in  rear  of  the  pole-pad  prevents  the  ring  of  the  neck  yoke  from  slii)ping 
back.  The  interior  of  the  chest  is  divided  into  three  compartments,  each  V.'> 
inches  deep,  1234  inches  wide,  and  21  inches  long.  The  lind)er  can  be  used  as 
an  ammunition  wagon  for  distributing  ammunition  in  the  field.  The  shelf  in 
front  of  the  chest  serves  for  holding  sacks  of  cartridges.  In  the  system  df 
distributing  cartridges  it  is  intended  to  have  the  wooden  bo.xes  made  to  Imld 
600  instead  of  1,000,  making  a  box  that  one  man  can  readily  handle,  and 
giving  handier  .shape  and  size  for  packing  on  mule  back  when  necessary.  The 
paper  bo.xes,  each  holding  20  cartridges,  are  strapped  together  in  s<iuare  pack- 
ages of  10,  and  eacli  wooden  box  holds  three  such  packages.  The  box  is 
made  to  open  readily  without  the  need  nf  l)reakiug  it  apart.  The  packages 
are  of  convenient  form  and  weight  tn  be  carried  by  hand  to  supply  troops  on 
the  firing  line,  and  they  can  lie  readily  stowed  in  the  limber  chest.  The 
wooden  boxes  were  devised  liy  (  ol.  1).  W.  Flagler  and  Col.  Williston. 

14.  New  Harness  lor  Liiilit  Artillery  and  Machine  Ciuns. 

A  full  set  of  wheel  and  lead  harness;  devised  by  Brevet  Lieut.  Col.  E.  B. 
Williston,  Major  Third  Artillery,  is  shown.  It  differs  materially  from  artil- 
lery harness  previouslj-  used. 

The  saddle  and  ecpiipment  of  cavalry  are  adojited  in  place  of  the  old,  and 
the  harness  is  made  to  conform  more  closely  to  the  ordinary  draught  harness 
used  for  wagons.  It  is  constructed  with  a  view  to  celerity  and  ease  in  har- 
nessing and  unharnessing.  The  pole  yoke  is  given  up,  and  a  neck  yoke  is 
adopted.  In  jjlace  of  the  rigid  splinter-bar,  a  swinging  double-tree  is  used, 
with  single-trees  attached,  to  equalize  the  draught  of  the  two  horses.  The 
single-tree  is  placed  al)ove  the  pole  for  liglit  draught,  and  Ijelow  it  for  heavy 
loads. 

To  unhitch  it  is  only  necessary  to  unhook  the  single-trees  from  the 
double-trees,  and  slip  the  ring  of  tbe  neck  yoke  off  the  end  of  the  jjole.  The 
single-trees  can  be  then  attached  to  hook.s  on  the  cautle  of  the  saddle.  In- 
stead of  a  single  lead-line  for  the  off  horse  the  bridle  has  two  reins,  which 
unite  in  a  single  strap  passing  over  a  roller  on  the  saddle  and  hanging  on  the 
side  toward  the  driver,  where  he  can  readily  grasp  it.  Wide  and  thin  traces 
are  used  instead  of  the  present  thick,  narrow  trace.  The  collar  is  hinged  at 
the  top  and  fastened  at  the  bottom  l)y  a  spring  fastening.  Martingale  and 
side  straps  are  used  to  hold  the  neck  yoke  down  and  relieve  strain  in  Inilding 
back.     A  woven  hair  pad  is  recommended. 

The  new  harness  is  much  lighter  than  the  old  system.  It  is  claimed  that 
this  harness  is  much  more  convenient  in  harnessing  and  unharnessing,  and 
that  it  can  1)6  manufactured  more  cheaply  than  that  now  in  use;  also,  that 
its  adjustment  can  be  more  readily  learned  by  civilians  called  to  act  as 
teamsters.  From  National  Armory. 


^4 


War  Department  Exhibit. 


].-,.   \\illist(.ii\s  Sectional  Picket  Rope  for  Light   Artillery. 

Tliis  consists  of  several  lengtlis  of  rope,  each  length  provided  with  steel 
slides  at  the  ends,  one  holding  a  link  and  the  other  a  hook.  The  link  is  made 
thin  enougii  at  one  side  for  the  hook  to  slip  on,  the  rest  of  the  link  being 
large  enough  to  keep  the  hook  from  slipping  off.  The  lengths  can  be  readily 
joined  i)y  these  fastenings,  each  wagon  carrying  one  length,  enough  for  the 
horses  belonging  to  it  when  detached  from  the  rest  of  the  battery.  The  rope 
is  laid  along  the  ground  and  secured  to  it  by  iron  picket  pins  having  two 
hooks  at  the  end  to  overlap  the  rope  from  opposite  sides. 


HAM)  FIKE-ARMS. 


.\  very  full  collection  of  these  arms  is  shown,  indicating  the 
develojiment  from  the  earliest  times,  and  including  many  of  the 
most  recent  magazine  guns  of  to-day.  Most  of  the  guns  are  from 
the  fine  collection  at  the  National  Armcjry.  but  the  more  recent  for- 
eign guns  were  sent  from  West  Point. 

The  descriptions  of  hand  fire-arms  are  divided  into  the  follow- 
ing classes  : 

Match  Locks — Muzzle  Loaders. 

Wheel  Locks — Muzzle  Loaders. 

Flint  Locks — Muzzle  Loaders. 

Percussion  Locks — Muzzle  Loaders. 

Single  Breech  Loaders. 

Re])eating  Arms,  including  Revolvers. 
Though  the  last  two  classes  involve  the  use  of  the  different 
kinds  of  locks  described  in  the  first  three  classes,  the  locks  are  not 
the  distinctive  feature.  Rejjeating  arms  and  revolvers  also  em- 
brace breech  loaders,  though  not  confined  to  that  class.  No  sepa- 
rate classification  of  smooth  bores  and  ritk-s  is  made.  The  ritle 
with  spiral  grooves  was  probably  invented  in  the  latter  part  of  the 
i6tii  century,  but  straight  grooves  were  used  as  early  as  1498  in 
German)-.  'J'his  form  steadied  the  bullet,  but  the  advantages 
gained  liy  twist  seem  to  have  been  an  accidental  discovery.  About 
1600  the  rille  began  to  be  used  as  a  military  weaj)on,  witli  s])her- 
ical  bullets,  and  in  i  729  elongated  bullets  were  used.     In  this  coun- 


Mar  JJcpart)iic)it  Exiiibit. 


25 


try  military  rifles  were  made  as  early  as  18 14,  at  Harper's  Ferry, 
but  the  mass  of  American  infantry  were  armed  with  smooth  bores 
until  1855.  Rifles  were  in  common  use  by  the  Americans  during 
the  Revolution. 


MATCH  LOCKS. 
HiHid  guns  first  appeared  in  the  I4tli  Century— the  earliest  ones  reiiuiring 
to  he  touched  oti',  like  cannon,  hy  means  of  a  slow  match  hehl  in  the  hand. 
These  were  called  hand-tannon,  petronels,  culverius,  etc.  (the  recoil  of  the 
pelronel  heing  taken  uji  on  the  lireast-plate  instead  of  on  the  shoulder).  Tlie 
match  lock  soon  appeared.     It  liad  a  swinging  cock  on  the  gun  ti)  liold   the 


Fig.  3. 
slow  match.  It  was  fired  liy  forcini;-  tiic  cock  down,  and  so  liringing  the  slow 
match  to  the  firing  pan.  In  later  nindels  tlic  cock  had  a  lever  attached  to 
act  as  trigger  for  l)ringing  tlic  slow  match  down.  The  match  locks  are  the 
earliest  models  shown  in  tlie  exhibit.  Many  of  these  early  guns  were  so 
heavy  that  a  crutch  had  to  he  used  to  snpi>ort  them  in  firing. 

1.  Matcli  Lock  ^[usket — Foniiosan. 

Captured  from  the  Boutans  and  Kussikuts,  of  Ahoriginal  Formosa,  at  the 
battle  of  tSeik  Mon  (Stone  Doors)  by  the  Japanese  troops  under  General  Saigo, 
May  22,  1874.  This  represents  the  earliest  form  of  match  lock  referred  to 
above.  It  has  no  trigger.  It  is  of  form  and  weight  to  he  fired  from  the 
shoulder.  From  Natioind  Armory 

2.  Match  Lock  ]Muskct  fi-oni  India;  date  tmkiiown. 

British  coins  on  butt.  The  bands  and  mountings  are  silver.  This  lias  a 
trigger  for  operating  the  cock.  'I'bc  butt  is  bent  downward  ami  then  ui)ward, 
forming  a  curious  curve.  Tiic  consl ruction  of  tiie  gun  and  its  general  linish 
are  of  tlie  most  primitive  character. 

3.  Match  Lock  Musket;  calibre,  .717  ;  of  XIV.  Century. 

The  trigger  works  an   intermediate  lever  to  bring  the  hghted  end  of  the 


26 


JJur   Di- part  nun  t   Exhibit. 


match  iiit.j  coiitail  witli  tlu-  i-aii.  <Jik'  ubjiHtiuii  lu  iiiatLli  knks  was  that  the 
blast  from  the  vi-nt  or  toiit-h-hole  would  blowout  the  match.  This  gun  is 
lif^lit  e^ou^'il  to  lire  fiom  the  shoulder. 

4.  Match    Lock   :Mnskct  ;   calibrts  ..jO  ;    history   unknown ; 
jirolKilily  Eastern. 

Has  a  tri^TK^T  for  <»].eratinf,'  the  eoek.  but  the  trigger  is  pushed  up  instead 
of  backward  as  in  other  guns.  The  stock  is  nearly  .straight.  The  barrel  was 
originally  covered  with  gold  leaf,  and  the  stock  was  ornamented  with  same. 
No  trJL'L'cr  iruanl  is  found  on  the  match  lock  guns. 


WMEEL     LOCKS. 
These  guns  first  appeared  early  in  the  Kith  Century.     They  originated  in 
Germany.     The  lock  is  very  ingenious  and  comi)licated.     In  these  locks   a 
piece  of  tlint  is  j.rcsscd  d.iw  u  by  a  sj.ring  against  a  revolving  wheel  of  tciii]icrcil 


1-ig.  -i. 
steel  placed  under  the  pan.  The  friction  betMcen  the  surfaces  i>roduces  the 
sparks  that  ignite  the  powder.  The  Hint  is  held  in  a  clamp  hinged  in  front. 
A  ribbon  spring  round  the  arbor  of  the  wheel  is  wound  uj)  i)y  a  key,  and  press- 
ing a  trigger  releases  the  wheel  and  allows  it  to  revolve.  Two  of  these  guns 
are  shown. 

All    the  early  lire   arms  were   so  slow  to  load   that  in  a  battle  as  late   as 
1036  they  could  be  lind  only  about  once  an  hour. 

1.  Chinese  Wheel  Lock  Pistol ;  calibre,  .492. 

This  shows  very  line  work.     The  stock  is  itdaid  with  ivory. 

2.  Wheel  Lock  (iiiii  ;  calihre,  .707  :  (late  about  1520? 

Used  in  the  held  with  a  crutch  to  sujijiort  the  barrel.  Stock  lii,i;bly  orna- 
mented. The  barrel  is  marked  Gottfried  Flennng.  Engraving  of  battle 
scene  on  lo(k-jilate.  'Jhi.s  gun  was  )irobably  used  as  a  wall  piece  or  with  a 
lioitable  (lulch  in  licld  (iriTig.     A  slide  covers  th(>  pan  to  keep  the  priming 


War  Department  Exhibit.  27 


from  faliiiig  out.  Winding  up  the  spring  slides  the  pan  forward.  The  h  ck 
lias  a  set  trigger.  It  is  remarkable  for  the  fineness  and  force  of  its  engrav- 
ing, and  for  the  general  beauty  of  its  iov\\\  and  finish. 

A  detached  wheel  lock  is  also  shown  in  working  order.  By  pressing  a 
knob  outside  the  lock-plate,  the  pan  cover  shdes  back  and  protects  the  prim- 
ing from  wet  or  loss.  The  key  is  i>i'rniaiirntly  atiacheil  to  the  arbor  wind- 
ing up  the  spring. 


FLINT    LOCKS-MUZZLE    LOADERS. 
The  Hint  lock  was  invented  early  in  the  Kith  century.     It  was  introduced 
into  the  French  army  in  16S0,  and  it  continued  to  be  used  in  all  armies  until 
about  18i2,  when  the  percussion  lock  replaced  it.    The  muzzle-loading  guns  of 
this  type  shown  in  the  exhibit  are  as  follows  ; 

1.  Rifle  Used  l)y  Minute  Men  of  tlie  Revolution  in  177(1 

2.  Five  Samples  of  Blunderbuss. 

Some  with  iron  barrels  and  some  with  brass;  cylindrical  and  bell- 
mouthed ;  two  with  swivel  for  use  ;s  wall  i)ieces.  These  date  from  t776  to 
1S20. 

3.  Eight    Guns    Made    tor    U.    kS.   Army   at  Springfield   or 

Harper's  Ferry. 

These  include  models  of  1799  (one  of  the  first  made),  1808,  1814,  1818, 
lSo7,  and  1813,  the  latter  from  the  last  lot  of  flint  locks  made.  These  guns 
show  changes  in  attaching  the  barrel  to  the  stock,  and  in  securing  the  bay- 
onet. In  the  earliest  models  the  barrel  had  no  bands.  It  was  attached  by 
keys  to  the  stock.  The  Harper's  Ferry  model  of  1814  is  a  rifle,  calibre  .53. 
The  model  of  1818  shows  a  magazine  lock  for  reprlming  the  pan.  The  cal- 
ibre of  the  muskets  varies  from  .69  to  .70. 

4.  Arab  Musket;  calibre,  .727. 

Barrel  4  feet  10  Indies  long.  Total  lengtii,  (!  feet  1  inch  long.  Highly 
ornamented  barrel  and  stock.  The  locking  of  the  hammer  draws  the  pan 
cover  over  the  pan,  and  protects  the  priming  from  wet,  etc.  The  fall  of  the 
hammer  pushes  this  cover  forward,  and  allows  the  sparks  from  the  steel  to 
fall  into  the  priming  and  ignite  the  charge.  Si.x  bands  of  sheet  brass  hold  the 
barrel  to  the  stock.  The  butt  plate  is  of  bone,  and  is  highly  decorated  on  the 
sole.  The  length  of  guns  of  this  class  is  probably  due  to  the  imperfect  gun- 
powder manufacture  of  the  period.  This  being  used  with  a  slow-burning 
mealed  powder,  the  long  barrel  was  necessary  to  allow  complete  combustion. 

5.  Albanian  ^fusket  ;  calibre,  .72. 

Silver  mounted.  Resembles  very  much  in  length,  style  of  ornamentation, 
etc.,  the  Arab  musket,  but  it  is  bandeil  and  inlaid  with  silver.  The  hammer  has 
a  special  dog  outside  the  lock-plate  for  holding  it  oft  the  steel.  The  hand  of 
the  tirer  is  protected  from  abrasion  by  a  leather  Hap.  The  piece  has  no  trig" 
ger  guard.     The  butt  is  of  brass  and  unc(inif(>rtat)ly  narrow. 


28  ^/'^A-  Department  Exhibit. 


PERCUSSION     LOCKS     MUZZLE    LOADERS. 
1.    Aii>t  ri.iii  Siiiuotli  IJoi'c  ^Miisl^ct  :  calil)!"!',  .70"). 

Tlii.s  is  I'viik-iitly  ;i  drtniKitiiij;  ^nin,  oi'fnited  by  (.'Xplixliiiy;  a  porcu-ssion 
(•a|>.siik'  ill  tin-  pan.  Tlio  pan  is  ruvered  liy  a  lid  on  the  i)riiiciple  of  tlie  flint 
lock,  and  a  pin  works  tlirouffh  tlii.s  lid  acting  on  (lie  cu]isulc  liclnw.  The 
Iiaininer  strikes  tlie  ]iin  and  e.\])lodes  tlie  cliaTfri'. 

•J.   Spiiii-lifld  Siiioolli  Imipc  ^fiisl-ict  ;  c-ililire,  .(i*.>. 

Altered  from  tlie  old  inndel  Hint  lock  to  percussion  in  lSt;5.  The  bayonet 
lias  a  cla-sji.  Many  <if  the  altereil  locks  were  used  in  the  first  years  of  the  re- 
bellion, a.s  new  arms  could  not  be  supplied  in  sufficient  (piantities. 

0.  SiiritiiilicM   Smootlt  Hnre  .^Fiiskef  ;    calibre,    .00;    iiUKlel 

1S4-J. 

Tlie  \\\<\  iiindcl  nf  llir  riiltcil  States  jxTcussion  mu.sket,  used  in  tlie 
service  in  the  Mexican  War.  Tlie  supi>ly  being  insufficient,  however.  Hint 
locks  were  generally  enii)|()yed.     Haynnet  has  clasj). 

1.  ILnpci's    I'\'i-i-y  SliarpsliooterV  Kille  ;  calihrc.  .75;  1847. 

\—vi\  .111  tiipiMl.      i'cc|i  sight  on  trigger;  glot)e  sight  on  liarrel. 

.").  Slioft   KilU',  1  la  i-pi'r's  Ferry  ;  calibre,;").'^."). 

Maiiufaiturcd  ISf.s.     Urnwneil  liari'cl.     Hrass  mountings.     Palcli  box  in 

stork. 

().    Double  IJarrid  Ivillc;  caliltre,  .."il  ;   Mmiich. 

Lock  plate  guard  and  butt  plate  engraved.  No  bauds.  Ilamiod  on  left 
side  of  stock.     Barrels  sujteriiosed. 

7.   Sprinjifield  Siiiootli  Bore  .Miisketooii ;   calibre,  .(59;  iSol. 

IJrass  butt  jilate.     (oiard  and   i>ands.     Ilaniroil   in  swivel  to  prevent  its 

loss  on  liorsebark.     Long  swivel  bar. 

iS.   Short,  Heavy  Sport ini^  Kille. 

Private  luanufacturi'  maile  from  stray  ])arts. 

0.   Spriiiii-lield  Kille  Miiskel  ;    calibre,  .58. 

Two  leaf  sights.  3i)(3  to  70u  yai'ds.  Manufacturt'd  in  1.X5!).  :Mnynard 
])rimer. 

10.  Short    Kille,  llarjierV  l-'erry  ;  calibiw  .58. 

Manufactured  \\\  LS59.  Browned  barrel.  :Maynard  ju-imer  and  sabre 
bayonet.     Patch  box  in  stock. 

11.  Spriiiiiliehl  Kille  Musket;   calibre,  .5S  ;    model,  18()1. 
This  is  the  arm  made  in  greatest  numbers  during  the  ^Var  of  the  Pe 


IVar  Department  Rxhilnt.  29 


Ix'llion.  It  differs  nuiinly  from  the  iiioilel  1855  in  the  change  in  the  rear 
siiilit,  and  tlie  (Hiiissinn  dI'  tiic  Maynard  primer.  Tl\e  necessity  for  tiie  im- 
mediate pniduetidii  of  i;i'-is  divl  nut  allow  time  for  clianging  tlie  hiclv-plute 
tools,  so  as  to  r(>ilnc(' till/  I  liickiH'ss  of  the  lork-plate  from  tlie  thickness  re- 
(juired  hy  the  Maynard  pi'lmiT.  Smni'  of  the  minor  defnils  of  the  monntings 
are  also  altered. 

12.  En-lish  Eiitield  Rille  Musket,  with  Sabre  Bayonet  ;  cal- 
ibre, aS.T;  model,  18()1. 

Has    iii]>|ile  pi-otector  held    hy  chain    on    trigger  guard.      Man)-  of   these 
trnns  were  useil  durinu'  thr  Itehellion. 


BREECH   LOADERS. 

Breech  haulers  ihite  hack  to  the  time  of  King  Ilein-y  Vlir.  The  earliest 
forms  of  French  and  German  nuike.  in  latt  ".■  part  of  IGth  century,  had  a 
ehamliered  hrecch  piece,  similar  in  action  to  that  descrihed  for  the  early  Chi- 
nese cannon.  These  were  match  lock  guns.  Son\e  flint  lock  hrei'ch  loaders 
in  latterpartof  17th  century  used  a  sinular  hlock,  hut  had  a  hariei  turning 
on  a  hinge  below,  as  in  the  modern  Smith  cV:  Wesson  revolver,  or  made  to 
swing  sideways  to  allow  inserting  the  chamber  piece.  These  removable 
idiainber  pieces  were  really  the  first  metallic  case  cartridges.  During  the 
Revolution  a  lireech  loader  was  in  nsc  closed  hy  a  screw  turned  in  from  helow 
across  the  rear  of  the  barrel.  This  was  the  Furguson  rifle.  The  tirst  Amcr' 
ic;in  breech  loading  gun  was  the  Hall,  and  s])eciniens  of  this  gun  are  the  first 
shown  in  the  exhibit . 

1.  i^reech    Loa.liiiii',    Flint     l>o<-k     Kitie    I\Insket     (ilalTs); 

{•alibre,  5 1.2. 

Ten  thousand  of  these  guns  were  issueil  to  U.  S.  troops  in  1818.  A  muzzle 
loading  chamber  piece  hinged  at  rear  inline  of  barrel  could  be  tilted  ui>  to 
allow  the  insertion  of  the  paper  cartridge.  A  catch  underneath  holds  the 
breech  piece  down  when  closed.  No  provision  for  a  gas  check  was  made  in 
these  guns.  A  joint  loose  for  one  thickness  of  writing  paper,  but  binding  on 
two,  being  considered  tiglit  enough  lo  iirevent  tlie  escape  of  gas,  and  yet 
k)ose  enough  for  free  manipulation. 

2.  Same  System,  Flint  Lock,  Model  of  1832;  calibre,  ~^.^X^. 

8.  IlalFs  Carbine,  Same   System,  Percussion  Lock;   caliber, 
64.2,  with  Kamrod  Bayonet  ;  1832. 

4.  Hall's  RiHe,  Percussion  ;  calibre,  .54;  1832. 

5.  Breech  Loading;  Xavy  Carl)ine,  Jenks  ;  calibre,  .52  ;  1843. 

Paper  cartridge,  hammer  on  side  of  the  barrel.     Opened  hy  drawing  hack 


•^o  JJ^(7f  Department  Exhibit. 


to).  lever.  By  means  of  a  link  this  draws  back  a  sliding  breech-plug,  and  cx- 
j.uses  a  n.und  hole  in  the  top  of  the  liarrei  a  little  larger  than  the  ball.  The 
ball  is  inserted  through  this,  and  allowed  to  run  forward  to  its  seat.  The 
powder  is  then  jMiured  in  and  pressed  forwanl  l>v  ri'vcrsinir  the  movement 
of  tlie  IfVcr. 

6.  Sli;iri)"s  Ciii-liiiH':  cililuv,  .."'i  ;  paper  carlridiie. 

Closed  hy  a  block  sliding  vertically  aero.«;s  rear  of  barrel,  operated  by  a 
lever  below.  Percussion  cap  and  nipple.  Edge  of  block  sharp  to  cut  off  rear 
of  paper  cartridge.  Gas  check  formed  by  undercut  .hollow  in  face  of  block. 
Sharps  guns  were  used  in  the  U.  S.  Army  as  early  as  ISifi,  in  the  Mexican 
war,  and  during  the  Rebellion. 

7.  Sliai-p's    Kitle;   calilxM-,   .58;    paper   cartruliie ;    Mayiiard 

l)riiner. 

In  this  nmdcl  tiic  l)reccli  i)lock  is  inclined  (o  axis  of  l)arrcl. 

S.    I'nissiaii    Xceille  ( iim  ;  calibre.  .(lO ;   iiiveiiled   1»y   Dreyse 

in  1S;5S. 

Presented  by  the  Prussian  (Jovernment  to  the  United  States  in  1868.  This 
gun  was  adopted  by  the  Prussian  Government  in  1847.  It  fires  a  paper  car- 
triilge,  front  ignition,  the  needle  striking  a  pellet  of  fulminate  in  the  base  of 
the  paper  sabot  which  surrounds  the  ball.  There  is  no  gas  check  except  that 
resulting  from  the  mechanical  fit  of  the  bolt.  This  is  the  earliest  self-primed 
cartridge  adopted  for  military  service,  and  the  gnu  is  the  first  exami)le  of  the 
holt  system  now  so  common  in  Europe.  The  bolt  is  pushed  in  and  turned, 
like  a  common  door  bolt,  to  secure  it. 

0.  Carbine  of  Same  System;  calibre,  ."^1. 

The  front  sight  is  protected  by  guards  on  either  si(U>  projecting  above  the 
l)arrel.  These  guards  stand  away  from  the  sight  far  enough  not  to  interfere 
with  aim.     This  device  would  be  useful  where  no  sight  cover  is  used. 

10.    .\lleii  and  ^\'lleel()(•lc  Carbiiu";  calibre,   .40;  pai)er  car- 
lridiie; made  al   Worcester,  IS,")."). 

1  1.   (JreeiiV  l^oll  (inn  ;  calibre,..");).");  Paper  Cartrida;e;   18,")7. 

Hammer  un^lerneatli  l)arrel.  Hy  depressing  the  spring  in  the  rear  of  the 
linlt  the  handle  of  the  liolt  can  he  lifted  and  withdrawn.  A  i)iston,  travers- 
ing tl'c  length  of  the  bolt  and  attached  to  the  handle,  serves  to  pass  the 
cliarge  forward  ii^to  place.  Tlie  piston  being  then  withdvawn,  the  bolt  is 
turned  and  locked  in  place  hy  two  lugs  at  its  forward  end  engaging  with  cor- 
resjionding  recesses  in  the  receiver. 

12.    TJndner  (^irbine;  calibre,  .")S.2  ;  paper  carlridiie. 
1.").  Early  Frenidi  Breech  Loading:  Kille  ;  calibre,  .58. 


War  Depaiinicut  Exhibit.  31 

iSj'steni  somewhat  rcsriiihU's  "  Siiai-|i's  "  (no  marks);  probably  used  with 
Let'aucheux  cartridge. 

14.  Merrill  Musketoon,  L.-itrolte  and  Thoinas  '^  Keber" ;  cal- 

ibre, .r)4;  i)ai)er  cartridtie. 

Altered  from  Harper's  Ferry  ritle.  Manutaclurod  is II).  See  Loek  plate. 
Leaf  rear  sight  l^'mm  National  Armory 

Tlie  INIerrill  rifle  reser.ibled  the  Jenks,  described  above,  except  as  to  nian- 
ner  of  loading.  It  has  a  spring  catch  engaging  with  rear  sight  base.  Also, 
an  ordinary  side  lock  meant  for  prepared  paper  or  skin  ammunition.  No 
extractor  used,  as  cartridge  is  all  consumed.  Breech  plug  faced  with  copper, 
probably  to  serve  as  gas  check.  14,495  INIerrill  carbnies  were  imrciiased  for 
use  of  the  army  during  the  Civil  war. 

15.  Starr's  Carbine;   calibre,  .54;    ])ai)er  cartridiie ;   Skele- 

tonized ((>  show  Breech  Action. 

By  depressing  the  lever  the  brace  in  rear  of  the  breei-h-block  is  drawn 
downward  by  means  of  a  link  connecting  it  with  breech-block.  The  breech- 
block is  simultaneously  caused  to  revolve  downward  and  backward.  The 
piece  is  fired  by  an  ordinary  side-lock.  The  face  of  the  breech-block  is  coun- 
tersunk annularly  so  as  to  give  a  conical  bearing  against  the  l)ntt  of  the 
barrel,  probably  to  serve  as  gas  check.  25,603  of  these  arms  were  ijurcliascd 
for  use  in  the  army  during  the  Civil  war. 

IG.  Smith  Carbine;  cali])re,  .52;  Paper  Cartridge. 

Barrel  connected  with  butt  by  a  hinge  below,  and  held  above  by  a  spring 
on  the  barrel,  stretching  across  the  joint  and  fitting  over  a  scjuare  lug  on  top 
of  buttstock.  Spring  lifted  by  a  lever  underneath.  3,062  of  these  rifles  pur- 
chased for  use  during  the  civil  war.  From  Alleghany  Arsenal. 

17.  Gallagher  Riiie  Carbine  ;  calibre,  .51. 

Barrel  opened  at  breech  by  lever  underneath,  pushing  it  foiward.  Used 
in  Civil  war. 

18.  Cosniox)olitan  Rifle  Carbine  ;  calibre,  .50. 

By  depressing  the  lever  the  fi'ont  section  of  tfie  breecli-lilock  sHdi's  inick 
until  a  cylindrical  tenon  on  its  face  is  clear  of  tlie  chamber.  It  then  re- 
volves about  an  axis  in  front  and  below  it  until  the  chamber  is  exposed. 
The  strain  of  the  discharge  is  transferred  by  the  head  of  the  lever  to  the 
abutment  on  the  frame.  The  arm  uses  a  paper  or  linen  cartridge,  ignited  by 
a  percussion  cap.  An  apron  above  the  block  protects  the  parts  from  dust, 
etc.,  and  helps  to  guide  the  cartridge  in   loading.     Tscd  in  (ivd  war. 

19.  Joslyn  Carbine  Rille  ;  calibre,  .54. 

The  breech  is  closed  by  a  plug  at  the  forward  end  of  the  strap  running 
backward  on  to  the  small  of  the  stock.  The  shape  of  the  plug  i.s  conical; 
it  is  loose  upon  the  strap,  and  contains  a  split  ring  designed  to  be  exj)ande(l 
bv  the  force  of  the  discharge  against  the  sides  of  the  seat  of  the  mouth  of  the 


■,2  JJ'(T7-  Department  ExJiibit. 


cliaiiil)er  to  art  as  gas  chock.  This  oxpaiisimi  is  effected  by  means  of  a  con- 
ical i.luiL',  driven  into  tlie  split  ring  by  the  discharge.  Thi.s  is  similar  to  the 
gas  check  of  the  Williams  gun  described  under  cannon.  The  locking  catch 
is  soconnected  with  the  rear  that  the  hammer  can  not  fall  while  the  breech 
is  open.  The  breech-block  is  locked  wlien  closed  by  the  locking  catch  at  its 
rear  end.     Used  in  Civil  war. 

20.    Fi-ciitli  Chassepot  Carbiiie;  caliljre,  .45. 

Handle  bent  down  to  he  out  of  the  way.  Paper  cartridge.  Bolt  gun 
resemlding  the  Prussian  needle  gun  in  principle.  The  gas  check  is  a  rubber 
waslier  on  the  end  of  the  bolt.  This  is  compresSed  a.xially  by  the  powder 
pressure  and  forced  against  the  sides  of  the  chamber,  being  sindlar  in  princi- 
ple to  the  Do  Bangegas  check  now  u.sed  in  heavy  guns. 

In  the  above  guns  paper  cartridges  were  used,  bullet  an<l  pnwder  wrapped 
in  paper  which  had  to  be  removed,  or  in  the  latter  models,  cartridges  in  which 
the  powder  only  was  covered  with  ])apcr.  cloth  ()r  otlier  condjustible  sub- 
stance, so  that  powder  and  l)all  could  be  inserted  togelher.  The  following 
use 

MKTALLIC    SHELL    C.VRTKIDGES. 

The  first  of  these  shells  were  unpriincd  like  the  Maynard  and  Burnside, 
and  in  the  transition  stage  s(une  were  made  with  tin  or  brass  foil  wrajijiers. 

21.   Speiirer  Sintile  Fiiiiiii'  Ivitie  ;  Keiiiovaltle  Steel  Loadiiiji' 

Cluiniber. 

This  has  ;i  thin  removable  steel  loading  chamber,  like  the  systiMu  described 
ab(jve  as  of  the  earliest  model  known.  The  chanaber  can  be  taken  out  and 
reloade(L     It  was  ])robably  iiitended  to  have  a  number  oi  these  chambers 

loadcil  for  use,  and  tluToforc  the  gun  is  placed  in  this  class. 

22.  'IJiiniside  Rifle  Carbine;  (•alil)r(\    ~^\\  IS")!). 

Movable  chaml)er  pivoted  in  front  under  barrel  held  ilose  l)y  cover  on 
transverse  shaft  operated  hj"  side  lever.  Used  an  unprimed  metallic  cartridge, 
the  front  part  of  the  shell  covering  the  joint  between  the  breech  block  and  the 
barrel  to  prevent  leakage  of  gas.  Central  fire;  perforation  in  center  of  base 
admitting  flame  from  cap  placed  on  an  outside  nipj)le.  In  closing,  the  breech 
block  has  a  forward  movement,  so  that  the  bidlet  projecting  from  forward 
end  of  chamber  is  pushed  into  the  rear  of  the  barrel.  A  nundier  of  tlujse 
arms  were  used  at  one  time  by  the  United  States  for  cavalry. 

23.  J^iitiiside  (^irl)iiie;  calibre,  .54. 

This  differs  from  the  above  in  the  locking  device,  consisting  of  a  barbed 
catch  on  the  receiver,  connected  with  a  pivoted  thumb-jiiece  on  the  inner 
side  of  the  guard.  55,5f)7  of  these  guns  were  purchased  for  use  m  the  army 
during  the  Civil  war.  Allegbanv  Arsenal. 


War  Department  Exhibit.  33 


24.  Morse's  S.ystem,  1858;  Wilson  and  Flather's  Alteration 

of  Smooth  Bore ;  calibre,  .58. 

Essentially  the  same  principle  as  the  Morse.  The  cartridge  is  rim  fire, 
fired  by  a  side  lock ;  the  parts  not  so  well  proportioned  as  in  the  Morse,  and 
the  breech  not  so  securely  locked  as  in  that  arm.  This  arm  is  provided  with 
an  automatic  ejector,  rising  from  the  bottom  of  the  receiver  to  throw  out  the 
cartridge  after  it  has  been  withdrawn  by  the  extractor. 

The  Morse  system  is  opened  by  raising  a  flap  hinged  at  rear  to  butt  of 
barrel.  This,  by  means  of  a  link  from  the  middle  point,  operates  a  breech- 
block which  travels  back  and  forth  in  the  cavity  exposed  by  raising  the  flap. 
A  center  fire  cartridge,  with  rubber  base,  was  used,  one  of  the  earliest  of  the 
metallic  shells.  Springfield  Armory. 

25.  Ballard  Ritie;  caliber,  .54. 

By  depressing  a  lever  the  breech-block  is  caused  first  to  recede  from  the 
barrel,  and  then  to  drop  downward,  revolving  about  a  shifting  horizontal 
axis  at  its  lower  and  rearmost  corner.  Hammer  and  lock  concealed  in  the 
breech-block.  Rim  fire  cartridge.  The  cartridge  shell  is  extracted  by  means 
of  a  slidin.g-  extractor  beneath  the  barrel,  moved  independently  by  hand  by 
means  of  a  finger-piece  projecting  beneath  the  tip  stock.  Depressing  the 
stock  leaves  the  hammer  at  half-cock.  Block  can  not  be  depressed  when 
hammer  is  cocked.  Fifteen  hundred  of  these  gvms  were  purchased  for  use  in 
the  army  during  the  Civil  war. 

26.  Joslyn  Carbine;  calibre,  .50. 

Opens  by  turning  block  to  the  left.     Extractor  on  block. 

27.  Palmer  Carbine  ;  calibre,  .50  ;  1865. 

Bolt  gun  with  side  lock.  Instead  of  being  secured,  like  an  ordinary  door 
bolt,  as  in  the  needle  gun  and  Chassepot,  the  bolt  has  a  sectional  screw  at  the 
rear  end,  engaging,  when  turned,  with  corresponding  screw  sections  in  the 
receiver.  Essentially  the  same  as  the  "  French  breech  screw,"  described  un- 
der 3.2  inch  rifle.  Rim  fire  cartridge.  Spring  extractor  lying  on  bolt  and 
fastened  to  it.  The  bolt  revolves  independent  of  extractor.  Ejection  ac- 
complished by  a  side  lever  thrown  outward  by  a  spring  as  the  shell  passes  it. 
Fired  bj^  ordinary  side  lock,  the  hammer  striking  cartridge  directly  on  rim. 
l,001V)f  these  arms  were  purchased  for  use  of  army  during  the  Civil  war. 

28.  Ward  Burl  on  Rifle;  calibre,  .50;  model,  1870;   altera- 

tion of  Muzzle  Loading  Springfield. 

Sanie  method  as  above  of  securing  bolt.  Lock  concealed  in  bolt.  Self- 
cocking  by  operation  of  loading.  Ejector,  a  pin  driven  out  of  front  face  of 
bolt  when  well  back.  Issued  for  experimental  trial  in  the  field  with  the 
Springfield,  Remington,  and  Siiarp's  arms.     1,000  of  each. 

29.  German   Manser   Rifle ;  calibre,   .45 ;    1870 ;   for  sabre 

bayonet. 

The  breech  action  is  similar  to  that  of  the  later  forms  of  needle  gun,  but 


34  War  Departninit  Exhibit. 


the  needle  is  abolished  and  a  firing-i)in  .■sub>titutcd,  a.s  the  piece  is  used  with 
central  fire  metallic  cartridges.  An  extractor,  working  in  a  slot  in  left  side 
of  the  shoe,  is  fastened  to  the  holt,  projecting  forward.  The  ne.'dle  gun  had 
been  much  improved  l)efore  the  change  was  made.  The  earlier  ones  re- 
(juired  to  be  cocked  by  hand  before  the  l)olt  could  be  turned  and  drawn  out. 
In  later  patterns  the  oi>erati(in  of  turning  the  liolt  cocks  the  i)iece.  The  nose 
of  till-  Ixilt  is  held  from  turning,  and  this  steadies  the  striking  mechanisjo. 

;{().  Austrian    Wcrndl     Rilie ;    calibre,    .45;     1872;     sabre 

bayonet. 

Fired  by  side  lork.  The  breech-ljlock  swings  on  an  axis  below  the  line  of 
the  barrel  hut  parallel  thereto.  Tliis  is  turned  by  means  of  a  thuinli-piece. 
A  spiral  groove  in  the  shaft  serves  to  work  tlu-  extractor. 

.■)1.   Fiviich  (iras  Rille;  callbri',  A'^'^  ;  model,  1874. 

This  is  the  development  of  the  ('liassepot  as  adapted  to  the  metallic  cart- 
ridge. The  rubber  washer,  formerly  used  as  gas  check,  is  therefore  omitted 
as  unnecessary.  an<l  a  heavy  extractor  placed  on  the  bolt. 

;^2.  Beaumont  Musket,  Holland;  calibre,  .45. 

Presented  to  the  United  States  by  the  Government  of  the  Netherlands  in 
1872.  A  bolt  gun.  Cocked  automatically  by  turning  up  the  handle  to  open 
the  breech.  It  operates  otherwise  very  much  as  the  Chassepot.  This  has  a 
spiral  spring.  A  safety  catch  on  the  right  .side  of  the  receiver  locks  the  bolt 
in  place  after  loading,  and  permits  the  arm  to  l)e  carried  without  danger 
either  of  accidental  opening  or  of  discharge. 

33.  Comblain  Rifle,  with  sabre  ba3'onet;  calibre,  .45. 

Partially  adopted  by  the  Belgian  Government.  By  depressing  the  lever 
the  breech-block  slides  downward  to  expose  the  chaml)er;  the  motion  of  the 
lever  cocks  the  hammer  meanwhile. 

34.  Pierie  or  Glisenti  Rifle. 

This  is  a  bolt  gun,  and  the  special  peculiarity  is  that  the  trigger  extends 
to  the  rear  of  the  bolt,  so  as  to  be  operated  by  the  thumb  instead  of  the  fore- 
finger. ' 

35.  Norny's  Alteration  of  Muzzle  Loader ;  calibre,  .58  ;  1886. 

Opened  by  drawing  back  a  lever  pivoted  underneath  the  stock  in  front  of 
the  trigger  guard.  The  lever  has  a  link  connecting  it  with  the  butt  of  the 
barrel,  so  that  by  the  above  operation  the  entire  i)arrel  is  slid  forward  in  its 
bed  between  the  stock  and  the  band.  Loaded  with  a  cartridge  inserted  by 
hand  into  the  chamber.  Closed  by  reversing  the  movement  of  the  lever, 
which  is  secured  when  closed  by  means  of  a  turn  screw  at  its  forward  end. 
Fired  by  the  ordiiuiry  side  lock,  the  face  of  the  hammer  being  prolonged, 
and  sharpened  to  strike  the  rim  of  the  cartridge.  Cartridges  extracted  by 
the  beveled  stud  on  the  face  of  the  breech  screw. 


War  Department  Exhibit.  35 


36.  Collin's  Alteration  of  Mnzzle  Loader ;  caliber,  .58. 

The  breech-block  is  opened  hy  liberating  a  spring  catch  on  its  right  side 
and  swinging  it  over  to  the  left.  The  extractor  slides  under  the  well  of  the 
receiver,  and  is  moved  by  a  separate  trigger  beneath  the  barrel.  This  trigger 
has  a  cogged  section  on  its  upper  surface,  which  meshes  into  an  inter- 
mediate ijinion  between  itself  and  the  cogged  lower  surface  of  the  extractor. 
This  causes  a  pull  on  the  trigger  to  slide  the  extractor  backward. 

37.  Breech  Loading  Rifle,   Freeman;  calibre,   .50;   1870; 

metallic  cartridge. 

Opened  by  swinging  back  breech-block  by  the  thumb-piece  in  front. 
Locked  by  the  position  of  the  breech-block  and  by  help  of  hammer.  Extrac- 
tion and  ejection  by  sliding  extractor  underneath  seat  of  block,  which  oper- 
ates in  connection  with  it. 

38.  Five  Guns,   showing   modifications  of  the    Remington 

System. 

In  this,  the  breech  is  closed  by  a  block  revolving  backward  on  an  axis  be- 
low, perpendicular  to  barrel.  A  cylindrical  shoulder  at  the  base  of  the  hammer 
in  rear  is  made  to  support  this  block.  The  specimens  show  different  modifi- 
cations— Benton,  Laidley,  etc. — of  the  locking  device,  to  give  security  from 
premature  explosion  or  to  render  the  opening  easier. 

From  National  Armory. 

39.  Breech   Loading  Rifle  Musket  (unknown);  1863 ;  cali- 

bre, .50. 

Breccli-liluck  opened  l)y  hanuner,  closed  by  hand.  By  cocking  the  ham- 
mer II  i)arallel  projection  on  tlie  shaft  of  the  tumbler  strikes  against  a  hinged 
stud  within  the  breech  block,  first  lifts  it  out  of  its  seat  in  the  receiver,  anil 
then  draws  it  back  vmtil  the  breech  is  fully  exposed.  The  hammer  is  stopped 
at  the  half-cock  by  a  projection  on  the  side  of  the  breech-block,  against 
which  it  strikes.  The  block  is  closed  by  hand.  It  is  locked  when  in  place  by 
setting  into  its  mortise  or  seat  in  the  receiver.  One  remarkable  feature,  espe- 
cially, considering  its  date,  consists  in  the  absence  of  screws ;  the  entire 
breech  mechanism,  including  the  lock,  having  but  one  screw,  and  that  one 
free  from  numy  objections  of  its  kind. 

40.  Lee  Gun;  calibre,  .45;  1875. 

Opened  by  pressing  forward  the  hammer.  The  insertion  of  the  cartridge 
releases  the  breech-block,  which  is  raised  when  the  hammer  is  next  cocked. 
The  cartridge  is  extracted  and  ejected  by  ])ressing  forward  the  hammer.  One 
hundred  of  these  made  at  the  National  Armor\'. 

41.  Braendlin  Albini  Rifle  ;  calibre,  .45 ;  1868. 

Presented  by  Belgian  Minister.  The  breech-block  is  hinged  in  front  at 
top  of  barrel,  as  in   Springfield   breech  loader.     It  is  locked  in  place,   when 


36  JVar  Department  Exhibit. 


closed,  by  a  bolt  connected  with  a  hammer,  which  entered  an  axial  cavity 
in  the  block.  The  tiring  pin  lies  forward  of  this  cavity,  and  is  struck  by  the 
bolt  when  the  hammer  falls.  Opening  the  breech-block  operates  a  double 
extractor  which  i.s  without  an  accelerating  device.  This  arm  is  used  by  the 
line  of  the  Belgian  army.  The  first  Berdan  rifle  adopted  by  the  Russian 
Government  is  a  combination  of  the  Braendhn  Albini  and  the  Chassepot. 
The  lock  is  in  line  of  barrel,  and  it  is  worked  by  a  spiral  spring.  Berdan's 
later  model  is  a  bolt  gun.  He  also  invented  a  double-jointed  block,  which  is 
claimed  to  be  the  basis  of  the  present  Springfield  model. 

42.  Austrian  Womzel  Rifle;  calibre,  .54;.  1870. 

Action  similar  to  that  of  Braeiullin  Albini.  By  cocking  the  hammer,  a 
bolt  attached  to  the  tumbler  is  drawn  back  from  its  cavity  in  the  body  of 
the  breech-block.  The  breech-block  is  then  raised  by  the  handle  on  its 
right.  The  bolt  above  referred  to  locks  down  the  breech-block  against  the 
strain  of  the  discharge.  The  extractor  slides  along  the  side  of  the  receiver, 
being  connected  with  a  i)rojection  on  one  of  the  hinge  pieces  of  the  breech- 
block forward  of  the  joint.  The  projection  is  cam-shaped,  and  beans  against 
a  flat  spring  on  the  side  of  the  receiver.  This  spring  tends  to  keejt  the  breech- 
block open  until  forcibly  shut.  The  liammer  .strikes  a  special  firing-pin, 
traversing  the  block  diagonally  to  the  lowest  ])oint  on  the  face  of  the  Ijreech- 
block.     The  cleaning  implements  accompany  this  piece. 

43.  Swiss  Millbank  Ansler  ;  calibre,  .45  ;  1870. 

Essentially  like  the  Springfield  rifle,  the  cam-latch  in  the  gun  stretching 
across  the  full  width  of  the  receiver.  Browned  barrel  and  mountings.  It  has 
no  spring.     There  is  no  ejecting  device.     The  hammer  has  no  half-cock. 

44.  Springfield  Eifle  Musket;  calibre,  .50  ;  model,  18G2. 

Altered  on  Allen'.s  plan.  Leaf  spring  ejector  stud.  Five  thousand  of 
these  guns  were  made  in  1865,  as  soon  as  the  return  of  peace  permitted  the 
attention  of  the  Ordnance  Department  to  be  directed  from  the  (juestion  of 
the  immediate  supply  of  the  most  easih'  manufactured  arms.  Tlie  arm  is 
the  first  of  the  series  of  alterations  of  the  muzzle  loading  rifle  musket  which 
have  developed  into  the  Springfield  riflei,  caliber,  .4."),  of  the  i)resent  day.  It 
is  opened  by  raising  the  cam-latch  by  means  of  the  thumb-piece  as  at  pres- 
ent, fired  by  a  side  lock  in  the  same  way.  It  differs  from  the  i)resent 
gun  mainly  in  the  detail  of  its  parts  and  in  the  extractor.  This  slides  back 
and  forth  in  a  groove  cut  in  the  side  of  the  barrel.  Upon  its  upi>er  edge  it 
bears  a  rack  into  which  meshes  a  series  of  similar  teeth  in  a  curved  arm  run- 
ning up  from  the  front  of  the  breech-block.  A  spring  serves  to  draw  it  Ijack. 
The  objection  to  this  arrangement  was  its  delicacy  and  the  liability  of  the 
stock  to  being  blown  away  through  tlie  cut  made  for  the  extractor  in  case  the 
cartridge-head  should  burst. 

45.  Millbank's  Alteration    ol"  Si)ringfield  Muzzle  Loader; 

calibre,  .58 ;  1866. 

Block  on  side  hinged  in  front,  .swings  to  the  right  and  forward.  Block 
is  locked  by  point  of  hammer. 


W^ar  Department  Exhibit.  37 


46.  Miller's  Alteration  of  Springfield  ^Iiizzle  Loader;  cal- 

ibre, .58;  1866. 

Tlie  breech-block,  which  is  hinged  above  the  l)arrel,  is  made  with  an  L- 
sliaped  arm  covering  the  mouth  of  tlie  chamber,  and  provided  with  a  tenon 
entering  a  mortise  in  the  bottom  of  the  receiver.  This  mortise  is  a  Uttle 
longer  than  the  tenon,  and  receives  the  lower  end  of  a  vertical  bolt  sliding  in 
the  back  surface  of  the  breech-block.  When  this  bolt  is  down,  the  mortise  is 
tilled  and  the  breech  can  not  be  opened.  When  it  is  lifted  sufficient  space  is 
given  for  the  tenon  to  clear  the  end  of  the  mortise  in  opening.  A  spring 
tends  to  keep  the  bolt  always  down.  A  projecting  arm  at  its  forward  end 
moves  a  sliding  extractor  in  the  side  of  the  barrel. 

47.  Springfield  Rifle  Musket;  calibre,  .50;  model,  1866. 

Differs  from  Allin's  alteration  in  the  greater  strength  of  its  parts,  and  in 
the  extractor,  which  consists  of  a  U-shaped  spring  against  the  side  of  the  re- 
ceiver. One  point  of  this  spring  projects  into  the  receiver,  and  catches  against 
the  rim  of  the  cartridge  as  the  cartridge  is  passed  into  the  chamber,  ('losing 
the  breech-block  compresses  this  spring,  which  is  released  on  opening  with 
sufficient  force  to  throw  out  the  empty  shell.  The  calibre  of  this  liarrel  is 
reduced  from  .58  to  ..30  by  the  insertion  and  brazing  of  a  lining  tube. 

48.  Springfield  Rifle  Musket;  calibre,  .50  ;  model,  1868. 

The  main  point  of  the  improvement  over  the  last  arm  consists  in  the  use  of 
a  separate  receiver  for  the  barrel  and  parts  of  the  mechanism,  and  in  the  im- 
provement of  the  extractor,  which  is  the  same  as  that  now  employed,  a  lever 
turning  on  hinge  pin  and  started  positively  by  the  block,  the  motion  being 
completed  by  an  ejector  spring  acting  on  the  extractor. 

49.  Springfield  Rifle  Musket;    calibre,    .50;     1870;    E.   S. 

Allin's  Improved  Centre  Lock. 

The  essential  feature  of  this  consists  in  its  dispensing  with  the  number  of 
])arts  forming  the  ordinary  side  lock.  The  main-spring  in  this  case  lies  under 
the  receiver.     The  other  parts  lie  beneatli  the  tang  of  the  breech-screw. 

50.  Springfield  Rifle  "Officers;''  model,  1873. 

Uetachable  pistol  grip,  checked  stock,  peep  and  globe  sight. 

51.  Springfield  "Marksman's"  Rifle;  1873. 

Pistol  grip,  peep  and  globe  sight,  covered  front  sight  with  level  attached. 

52.  Twenty  Springfield  Carbine  service  ;  model,  1884;  BufF- 

ington  sight. 

A  description  of  this  sight  is  given  later  on. 

53.  Twenty  Springfield  Rifles;  service  model,  1884;   with 

Buffington  sight. 


38 


IVaf  Department  Exhibit. 


54.  Two  Springfield  Eifles,  with  ramrod  bayonets,  one  bay- 
onet round,  latest  model,  1886;  the  other  triangular,  1873. 

See  Hall's  carbine  fur  note  of  very  early  form  of  ramrod  bayonet.  Tlie 
rod  fits  in  the  ramrod  groove,  and  wbcn  slii)])ed  forward  to  serve  as  bayonet, 
it  is  lield  l)y  spring  eatches. 

.■).').  Springfield  Long  Barrel  Carbine;  New  model ;  calibre, 
.45;  experimental,  1887. 

Itarrel  1'4  inches  long.  Stock  runs  nearly  whole  length  of  i)arrel.  Has 
iiu  liiwer  band.     Buffington  sight. 

50.  Springfield  Breech  Loading  Shot  (Jun;  model  1881. 

This  is  a  single  barrel  gun.  Two  are  issued  to  each  company  in  service, 
fur  hunting  i>uri)Oses. 

57.  Kclton's  Ilammerle^H  Spriiigiield  Kitle ;   1887. 

In  this  model  the  lock  is  concealed  in  the  breech-block.  Opening  the 
block  compresses  the  firing  spring  l)y  means  of  a  side  lever  and  arm,  as 


Fig.  5. 
shown  in  figure  5.     The  sear  projects  below  the  block  and  catches  in  the  trig- 
ger.    For  note  of  another  hammerless  device,  sec  Clemens'  Magazine  Spring- 
field Gun,  under  head  of  "  Repeating  Arms." 


The  Kelton  cartridge  carrier  block,  shown  below  the  gun  in  the  figure, 
is  the  latest  device  proposed  for  supplying  cartridges  readily  to  the  soldier's 
hand  when  armed  with  single  loading  guns.  These  devices,  of  which  there 
are  several  shown,  form  an  intermediate  stage  in  the  progress  towards  the 
magazine  gun  of  the  present  day.     They  are  usually  called— 

(JlIt'K    LOADERS. 

Some  of  these  are  fi.\ed  to  the  stock,  and  others  are  detachable. 


War  Department  Exhibit.  39 

58.  Col.  J.  G.  Benton's  Quick  Loader,  Fixed;  1870. 

The  cartridges  are  placed  point  down  in  holes  in  the  stock,  which  is  en- 
larged at  the  left  of  the  receiver,  tlie  side  of  the  breech-block  having  a  pro- 
jecting ledge  to  cover  them  when  it  is  closed. 

59.  General  Hagner's  Quick  Loader,  Fixed ;  1874. 

Fixed  under  butt  stock.  A  perforated  projecting  block  holds  several 
cartridges,  points  to  the  rear. 

60.  Jas.  B.  Stillinan's  Quick  Loader,  Fixed ;  1874. 

There  are  two  forms,  each  consisting  of  a  row  of  holes  in  the  top  of  the 
butt  stock.  In  one  form  the  cartridges  are  protected  by  a  cover  swinging 
laterally.     In  the  other  by  a  cover  turning  \x\t  on  a  horizontal  hinge. 

61.  Ira  Merriirs  Quick  Loader,  Fixed;  1884. 

In  top  of  butt  stock  like  .Stillman's,  but  instead  of  a  row  of  holes,  a  mortise 
is  cut  in  top  of  the  stock,  and  this  is  covered,  except  at  the  front  end.  A 
spring  within  presses  a  follower  forward  to  hold  any  cartridges  that  may  be 
put  in,  and  to  keep  them  near  the  opening  ready  to  hand. 

62.  Col.  Benton's  Detachable  Quick  Loader;  1873. 

This  is  a  perforated  block  which  can  be  attached  to  catches  on  the  right 
side  of  the  stock  near  the  receiver  by  means  of  a  lever  fastened  to  the  block. 

This  resembles  the  Krnka  quick  loader,  which  recently  was  highly  com- 
mended in  England.     It  is  intended  to  be  preserved  and  refilled. 

63.  Capt.  Metcalfe's  Detachable  Quick  Loader,  and  Cart- 

tridge  Packing  Block. 

This  diflt'ers  mainly  from  Col.  Benton's  in  the  method  of  attachment  to 
the  gun,  having  the  block  itself  free  from  mechanism,  and  in  making  the 
block  to  serve  for  packing  cartridges  at  the  Armory  for  transportation.  It 
holds  eight  cartridges.     It  is  intended  to  be  thrown  away  when  emptied. 

64.  General  Kelton's  Detachable  Quick  Loader ;  1887. 

This  is  a  block  having  two  rows  of  holes,  and  made  to  attach  below  the 
stock  at  the  receiver,  instead  of  at  the  side.  The  flange  ends  of  the  cartridges 
are  towards  the  right,  near  the  right  hand,  for  ease  of  withdrawal.    Figure  5. 


PISTOLS. 

Thirty-six  pistols  are  shown. 

These  are  on  boards  from  the  Ordnance  Office  and  National  Armory. 
They  are  of  various  kinds  and  sizes,  muzzle  and  breech  loaders,  rifle  and 
smooth  bore.  Some  pistols,  and  revolvers  also,  are  used  with  a  detachable 
carbine-stock  for  firing  from  the  shoulder. 


^* 


40  War  Department  Exhibit. 


REPEATING  ARMS. 

Repeating  anus  here  include  revolving  arms  and  magazine  guns  proper, 
the  latter  arranged  in  three  classes,  according  to  form  and  position  of  the 
\na.ga.7AnG:—txihnlnrm(t(jazinesinthe  hutt-stock;  tubular  magazines  under  the 
biirrcl;  and  wliat  are  here  called  box  magazines,  placed  under,  or  beside  the 
receiver,   with   cartridges  touching  lengthwise  instead  of  endwise. 

Still  earlier  forms  of  repeating  arms  are  first  shown. 

iVy.   Ellis'  Tlepeatin<r  Flint  Lock  Muzzle  Loading-  Rifle;  cal- 
ibre, .54. 

This  illustrates  one  of  the  earliest  forms  of  repeating  arms.  The  barrel 
has  three  vents  along  the  side  of  the  breech,  with  a  single  lock  made  to  slide 
hack  and  forth  to  bring  the  pan  opposite  one  vent  after  another.  It  was  in- 
tended to  put  three  loads  in,  one  above  another,  with  the  wads  between,  the 
l)owder  of  each  load  coming  opposite  one  of  the  vents.  On  tiring  the  front 
charge  the  lock  would  be  slipped  back  to  the  next  vent,  and  so  on,  firing 
the  rear  charges  in  succession,  if  they  had  not  gone  off  at  the  first  shot. 

66.  Single  Barrel  Pistol,  Percussion,  firing  two  charges. 

Similar  to  Ellis  gun  in  method  of  loading,  but  provided  with  two  ham- 
mers, one  longer  than  the  other,  to  reach  two  nipples,  one  in  advance  of  the 
other.  It  was  probably  intended  to  force  the  bullets  in  tightly  enough  to 
prevent  flame  from  front  charge  igniting  the  rear  one.  Loaned  by  Capt. 
Wachs,  Covington,  Ky.,  who  also  loaned  a  blunderbuss,  fitted  with  a  hinged 
bayonet. 


REVOL\JA(;    ARMS. 

Some  sixty  specimens  are  shown.  The  earliest  revolvers  were  match- 
locks, but  there  are  no  specimens  of  these  in  the  exhibit.  The  earlier  forms 
had  the  cylinder  extending  the  full  length,  and  they  required  to  be  turned  by 
hand.  Though  Colt's  revolvers  were  the  first  ones  generally  used  which 
turned  the  cj'linder  automatically,  earlier  forms  show  this  improvement 
crudely.  The  chief  point  claimed  in  the  original  Colt  patent  was  the  central 
fire,  the  nipples  being  placed  in  the  axes  of  the  barrels  in  the  cylinder.  An 
old  revolver,  shown  by  the  Bandle  Gun  Co.,  of  Cincinnati,  has  four  barrels, 
each  provided  with  a  pan  and  cover  for  the  single  flint  lock. 

One  great  objection  to  the  revolver  system  for  anything  but  pistols  is  the 
escape  of  gas  at  the  joint  between  the  cylinder  and  barrel,  as  this  lessens  the 
range.  The  last  specinien  shown,  the  Swingle,  combines  a  bolt  with  the  cyl- 
inder and  pushes  the  cartridge  into  a  chamber  in  the  barrel.  It  is  filled  as 
readily  as  some  of  the  tubular  magazine  guns.  Savage's  revolver  has  a  con- 
trivance for  pushing  the  cylinder  against  the  barrel  before  firing,  to  shut  ofl 
escape  of  gas. 

67.  Plint  Lock  Kevolving  Carbine;    Pepper  Box  Pattern; 

8  Shots. 


War  Department  Exhibit.  41 


68.  Revolving  Percussion  Pistol  (Pepper  Box);  6  Shots. 

69.  Whittier  Revolving  Rifle;  date  about  1835. 

Cylinder  has  to  be  turned  by  hand.  Has  a  single  long  barrel  in  front  of 
the  revolving  cylinder. 

70.  Cochran's  Revolving  Pistol. 

Revolving  chanabers;  revolves  by  hand;  hammer  below;  chambers  ex- 
tend radially  from  the  centre.  Cylinder  is  a  flat  di.sk,  with  chambers  in  the 
curved  surface,  running  radially  from  near  the  centre.  Revolved  by  hand. 
Hammer  underneath.     Paper  cartridge,  percussion. 

Contributed  by  Colt's  Pat.  Fire  Arms  Co. 

71.  Cochran  Revolving  Rifle. 

Similar  construction  to  pistol  first  described.  Has  a  disk  holding  nine 
charges;  revolveil  by  hand.  Hammer  underneath.  Disk  taken  out  to  charge 
by  throwing  \\\)  strap  which  runs  along  top  of  stock. 

Prom  Colt's  Arms  Co. 

72.  Two  Coifs  Revolvers,  of  earliest  pattern. 

Used  for  paper  ammunition.  From  Colt's  Arms  Co. 

73.  Colt's  Revolving  Rifle  ;  early  pattern. 

From  Colt's  Arms  Co. 

74.  Colt's  Revolving  Shot  Gun;  No.  12  bore. 

From  Colt's  Arms  Co. 

75.  Colt's  Revolving  Rifle,  five  shots,  with  sword  bayonet; 

calibre,  .56 ;  1857. 

From  National  Armory. 

76.  Coifs  Revolving  Carbine,  five  shots;  calibre,  .56;  1857. 

77.  Eight  Specimens  of  Colt's  Revolver. 

Showing  the  progression  from  the  earlier  forms  used  with  paper  cartridges 
to  the  most  recent  used  with  metallic  ammunition.  Some  show  marks  of 
alteration  from  old  form  to  new. 

78.  Wesson  &  Leavitt  Revolver ;  calibre,  .35. 

First  revolver  patented  after  Colt's.  Made  by  Massachusetts  Arms  Co., 
Chicopee  Falls,  Massachusetts. 

79.  French  Navy  Revolver,    Leraat  pattern ;    nine   shots ; 

central  barrel  for  buckshot. 

The  extremitj'  of  the  hammer  is  made  with  a  joint,  so  that  it  can   be 


J I '(7/    Department  Exhibit. 


turiKMl  Mirwanl  to  tiif  ilie  chauilicrs,  or  turned  down  to  fire  the  central  barrel. 

Loaned  Ijy  C.  Breckenridge,  Covington,  Ky. 

80.   Tliivc  .loslyii  Ivi-volvcrs;  calibre,  .44  ;  one  skeletonized. 
M.    lOight  Specimens  of   Ueniinulon  Revolver. 

Illustrating  the  developniL-nt  from  the  time  of  paper  cartridges  to  to-day. 
Some  forms  liave  the  Hay  safety  device,  a  slide  passing  up  in  front  of  the 
hammer  to  keep  the  latter  nj)  until  tlie  slide  is  withdrawn  hy  pressing  the 
trigger. 

82.    Heall  Revolver;  calilire,  .44. 

Hears  close  resemlilance  to  tiie  Kemington. 

88.  Two  Allen  A:  Wheelock  Revolvers;  calibre,  .44. 

Its  main  difference  from  the  ordinary  form  of  the  Colt  revolver,  or  of  the 
Kemington  whidi  it  resend)les  in  having  tlie  cylinder  inclosed  by  the  frame, 
consists  in  tiie  position  of  tlu  rammer  lever,  which  is  turned  backward  and 
bent  so  as  to  form  the  trigger  guard. 

84.  Adams  Revolver  (English);  calibre,  .44  ;  patented  1856. 

A  self-cocking  revolver,  the  hammer  being  raised  by  pulling  tlie  trigger. 

85.  Four  Self  Cocking  Starr  Revolvers. 

The  trigger  is  douljle.  By  continuing  to  pull  on  the  forward  trigger, 
which  raises  the  hammer  and  revolves  the  cylinder,  tiie  back  of  the  trigger 
strikes  against  the  front  of  a  rear  trigger  and  causes  the  liannncr  to  fall. 

8<).  Two  Dreyse  Needle  Revolvers;  calibre,. 85  ;  self  cocking. 

87.  Four  Savage  Revolvers;  calibre,  .oC'25  ;  self  cocking. 

By  puUiiig  l)ack  tiie  lever  in  the  rear  of  tlie  triggi'r,  the  cylinder  is  first 
slightly  retired  from  the  barrel  and  then  caused  to  revolve.  Tiie  hammer  is 
cocked  at  the  same  time.  When  the  lever  is  released,  the  cylinder  moves  for- 
ward slightly,  so  that  the  mouth  of  the  nearest  cliaiiii)cr  may  embrace  the 
butt  of  the  l)arrel,  made  somewhat  conical  for  this  purpose.  Tiie  cylinder  is 
withdrawn  by  means  of  a  toggle-joint,  connected  in  its  rear  end,  which  is 
lifted  by  a  projection  on  the  ujiper  part  of  the  lever.  An  arm,  attached  to 
this  end  of  the  toggle,  reaches  forward  and  operates  tlie  ratchet.  The  stop- 
ratchet  is  formed  on  the  body  of  the  cylinder,  back  of  the  cones.  The  oper- 
ation of  the  moving  parts,  which  is  very  interesting,  may  be  readih'  seen  by 
removing  the  j)late  on  tlie  left  of  the  lock. 

88.  PettengilFs   Revolver;    calibre,   .44;     Double    Action, 

Hammerless\ 
8-).   Two    JA'tauciieux    Revolvers     (Frenclij;     calibre,    .35; 

Fin  Fire. 

By  opening  the  gate  on  the  right  side,  the  rear  chambers  are  exposed  and 


War  Department  Exhibit.  43 


an  opportunity  given  to  insert  the  cartridges.  Tlie  empty  cartridge  shells 
are  pushed  out  to  the  rear  iiy  sliding  a  rod  on  the  frame.  The  cylinder  stop 
consists  of  a  pin  plying  hack  and  forth  in  the  face  of  the  hreech.  It  arrests 
the  movement  of  the  cylinder  hy  striiving  against  projections  on  tlie  face  of 
the  cylinder  between  the  chamhers.  In  conseijuence  of  M.  Lefauelieu.v's 
early  invention  of  this  pin-tire  cartridge,  this  is  one  of  the  earliest  breech- 
loading  revolvers  using  metallic  ammunition.  The  tl•ig^■er  folds  up  when 
not  in  use. 

90.   Cliristienseii  Ilevolver  (Danish  )  ;   calibre,  .4.")  ;   pin  lire. 

The  hinged  gate  in  rear  of  the  right  side  of  the  cylinder  allows  the  cham- 
her  to  lie  loaded  with  a  i>in  tire  ( Ijefancheux)  cartridge.  The  stop  operates 
against  a  series  oi  inclined  ratchet  teeth  formed  on  the  liody  of  the  cylinder. 
The  trigger  folds  up  when  not  in  use.  The  butt  contains  an  oil  cavity  closed 
hy  a  screw  stopper  which  has  an  internal  stem  to  take  ui>  the  oil  one  drop  at 
a  time.  An  eye  is  formed  in  the  frame  immediately  in  the  rear  of  the  ham- 
mer, by  which  the  pistol  is  fastened  to  the  person  hy  alangard. 

01.  'J'liree  Perrin  Revolver!-;  (French)  ;  calil)er,  .44. 

The  cartridges  arc  i)iserted  through  the  gate  in  the  rear  of  the  cylinder 
on  the  i-ight.  The  tumlik'r  is  without  any  notch,  the  hammer  falling  at  the 
moment  that  the  "  lift  "  of  the  trigger  i.s  accomplislied.  It  may  be  kept  o^ 
the  cai'tridgc  by  means  of  a  wedge  pressed  in  hy  a  spring  so  as  to  block  its 
fall.  The  wedge  is  out  of  the  way  when  the  liamnuT  falls  in  (iring.  The  pis- 
tol uses  a  central  lire  cartridge,  instead  of  the  pin  lire  Lefaucheux  cartridge 
for  whi<h  it  was  originally  made. 

92.  tSliari)^  Revolver  ;  calibre,  .44. 

Opened  liy  swinging  liarrel  sideways.  Sauu."  as  Wesson's,  except  in  mode 
of  opening. 

93.  Smith  tind  Wes.son  Revolver. 

r>y  raising  the  barrel  latch  in  the  rear  of  an<l  above  tlie  cylinder,  the 
harrel  may  be  turned  down  al)out  a  horizontal  axis  in  front  of  the  lower  part 
of  the  cylinder.  The  iiarrel  in  turning  down  carries  with  it  the  cylinder, 
and  at  the  same  time  a  siutft  running  through  the  axle  of  the  cylinder  is 
driven  to  the  rear,  pushing  out  the  empty  shells  by  a  projecting  plate  on  the 
real-  end.  When  pushed  out  far  enough  to  renujve  the  shells,  this  extractor 
springs  forward  into  place,  and  gives  room  for  inserting  more  cartridges. 

94.  Smith    and     Wesson     Revolver;    ctilibre,    48;    Russian 

model. 

95.  Scholield.  Smith   ;ind   Wesson   Revolver;   calibre,  .45; 

r.  S.  Service  pattern. 

This  arm  diliers  principally  from  Smith  and  Wesson,  in  the  I'orm  of 
the  extractor  and  of  the  harrel  latch,  the  latter  lieing  hinged  to  the  frame,  in- 
stead of  the  l)arrel,  of  the  cylinder  catch.  The  height  of  the  front  sight  is 
also  reduced  by  placing  it  in  a  groove  along  the  top  of  the  harrel. 


44 


IVar  Depatimciit  Exhibit. 


96.  Sniirli    :in(l  TTesson's   Army    Revolver,    witli   Kelton's 
Safety  Stop  attachment. 

As  shown  in  figure  6,  the  handle  of  the  revolver  has  a  tliumb-jiiece  on  the 
right.  This  serves  two  purposes.  First,  it  steadies  the  revolver  by  giving 
a  lirni  grasp  with  the  aid  of  the  thumb.  Second,  it  prevents  firing  the  piece 
until  the  trigger  is  pulled.     For  this  purpose  the  thumb-piece  is  hinged  at  the 


Fig.  li. 
forward  end  on  a  shaft,  which  extends    into   the  frame  of  the    handle  and 
keeps  the  hammer  from  falling  until  the  thumb-piece  is  pressed  down.     This 
is  the  invention  of  Bvt.  Brig.-Gen'l  J.  C.  Kelton,  U.  8.  A. 

97.  Kelton's  Cartridge  Pack  tor  Smith  tt  Wesson  Revolvers. 


Fig.  '■  Fig.  S. 

This  is  shown  in  figures  7  and  S.     Figure  7  shows  the  packagi',  and  figure  8 
shows  it  partudly  inserted  in  the  barrels  of  the  cvlinder.     The  cartridges  are 


War  Department  Exhibit.  45 


arranged  around  a  central  stem,  and  held  bj'-  a  paper  band,  or  by  a  brass 
strap  with  a  simple  catch.  The  packages  are  carried  in  cylindrical  boxes  at- 
tached to  tlie  waist  or  shoulder  belt,  and  when  the  revolver  is  opened  they 
can  l)e  readily  taken  from  the  belt  and  ))nshed  into  the  cylinder.  Tlie  band 
or  strap  is  readily  loosened,  and  die  central  stem  falls  out.  This  gives  a  ready 
means  of  reloading  tlie  cylinder. 

98.  Swingle  Revolving  Repeating  Eifle;  1880. 

This  is  a  bolt  gun  with  a  revolving  cylinder  beneath  the  bolt.  This  cylin- 
der, instead  of  holes  parallel  to  the  axis,  has  grooves  in  its  outer  surface,  as 
in  the  Lowell  and  other  machine  guns,  and  the  bolt  works  through  one 
after  the  other  in  succession.  The  cylinder  is  supplied  with  cartridges 
through  an  opening  on  tlie  right  hand  side  as  in  the  Colt  hreech  loading 
revolver. 


TUBULAR    MAGAZINES    IN    THE    BUTT-STOCK. 

The  earliest  example  of  this  kind  known  is  a  match  lock  gun  of  the  isth 
century.  It  had  two  tubular  magazines  running  lengthwise  of  the  butt  stock 
as  m  later  models,  one  holding  powder  for  the  charge  and  the  oth^  powder 
for  priming,  the  bullets  being  inserted  singly.  A.  revolving  disk,  turning  like 
the  Cochran,  round  an  axis  perpendicular  to  the  barrel,  but  horizontal  iiistead 
of  vertical,  served  to  close  the  breech  and  the  tubes.  A  chamber  in  the  cir- 
cumference allowed  the  insertion  of  a  ball  from  underneath  the  gun.  The 
disk  was  then  turned  to  carry  the  hole  past  the  magazine  openings,  muzzle  of 
gun  held  down  to  let  the  powder  drop  in,  and  was  then  set  to  bring  the 
chamber  opposite  the  barrel. 

99.  Spencer  Carbine;  old  model ;  calibre,  .52;  skeletonized. 

This  gun  was  introduced  in  1860.  It  was  the  earliest  magazine  gun  used 
in  actual  war.  Ninety-four  thousand  one  hundred  and  fifty-six  were  pur- 
chased for  use  in  the  army  during  the  Civil  War.  Used  a  rim-fire  metallic 
cartridge.  A  lever  underneath,  swinging  down  and  forward,  draws  down  the 
breech-block  and  swings  it  backward  far  enough  for  a  cartridge  to  slip  over 
the  block  from  the  magazine  in  rear,  a  spring  finger  above  tlie  mouth  of  the 
magazine  keeping  the  cartridge  from  slipping  out.  Swinging  the  lever  for- 
ward, pushes  the  cartridge  in  and  closes  the  breech.  Fired  by  an  independ- 
ent hammer  striking  a  slide  in  the  block  and  driving  it  against  the  nm  of 
cartridge.  By  a  button  underneath  the  swing  of  the  lever  can  be  limited  so 
that  a  cartridge  will  not  be  admitted  from  the  magazine,  and  the  gun  can 
then  be  used  as  a  single  loader.  A  narrow  plate  hinged  to  the  block  serves  as 
extractor,  and  the  shell  is  forced  out  by  sliding  up  the  inclined  finger  winch 
covers  the  magazine.  A  tube  containing  a  spiral  spring  can  be  drawn  out 
from  the  rear,  allowing  cartridges  to  lie  dropped  into  the  nuigazine.  Return- 
ing the  tube  to  place  brings  the  pressure  of  the  spring  upon  the  cartridges  to 
force  them  forward.  The  spring  has  a  head,  or  "  follower  "  at  the  end  to  bear 
upon  the  cartridge,  and  this  is  common  to  all  spring  magazines. 


46  Wat  Department  Exhibit. 

100.  Spencer  Repeatin.ii-  Rifle;    calibre,  .oO ;    altered   from 

( "arldne. 

Siimc  system  as  above. 

101.  Scoti  or  'ri-ijilcii    Maiiazine  Rifle ;  calibre,  .50  ;    about 

187(»;    >h'riiliaii   .MamiCact  iirin^;  ("o..  ^Nferidian. 

The  iiias^aziiie  in  butt  stuck;  barrel  revolves  on  parallel  axis  beiieatli  it 
until  opposite  nioutli  of  magazine,  when  it  receives  its  charge. 

|(»-J.   Clciiu'iis  Maiiazine  Rifle '' Springfield   System;"    1S78. 

Tiie  magazine  in  tlii.s  gun  is  plaecd  in  a  groove  in  tlie  left  side  of  the  butt 
stoek,  and  it  runs  up  to  the  side  wall  of  the  receiver,  which  has  an  opening 
to  allow  cartridges  to  slip  obliquely  from  the  magazine  towards  the  firing 
chamber.  A  coiled  spring  at  the  side  of  the  magazine  works  a  flexible  plunger 
to  force  the  cartridges  forward.  Rather  complicated  mechanism,  somewhat 
on  the  order  of  the  first  Allin  model  for  the  Springfield  (No,  49  above),  is 
needed  to  throw  the  empty  shell  clear  of  the  magazine  and  draw  a  cartridge 
from  the  magazine  to  the  chamber.  This  gun  shows  a  hammeriess  breech- 
lilock.  \t  is  converted  from  the  regular  block  with  little  exterior  change.  A 
side  lever,  as  in  the  Kelton  hammeriess  gun  above  <lescribcd  (No.  57),  pushes 
l)ack  the  liring-pin  and  c(>m|iresses  a  sjiring  in  the  block,  liut  instead  of  hav- 
ing a  sear  beU)W,  the  tiring-i>in  jirojccts  from  the  rear  of  the  block  iis  in  the 
service  moilel,  and  a  shoulder  there  catches  on  a  spring  plate  which  is  jiresscd 
out  by  nK)vement  of  the  trigger,  releasing  the  firing-pin.  The  description  of 
this  gun  in  Report  of  Chief  of  Ordnance  for  1878  does  not  refer  to  the  "  ham- 
mciless"  device.  Other  attem])ts  to  make  a  magazine  gun  of  the  Springheld 
are  there  noted. 

10.").    Hotchkiss  Magazine  Rille;  calibre, ..4."). 

See  Report  of  (,'hief  of  Ordnance  for  1882.  This  gun  was  introduced  about 
1879.  It  is  a  bolt  gun  similar  to  the  Mauser.  The  slot  in  the  receiver  is 
curved  at  its  junction  with  the  front  and  rear  shoulders.  The  l)olt  is  hence 
gently  checked  just  before  it  is  pushed  home,  preventing  sliock  on  the  head 
of  the  cartridge,  and  making  the  oyieration  more  continuous  than  with  s(|uare 
shoulders.  The  front  curve  also  rams  the  bolt  backward  in  beginning 
tf)  o]>en,  and  so  starts  the  shell,  which  can  then  be  readily  drawn  out. 
This  action,  now  used  in  other  bolt  guns,  was  claimed  by  Hotchkiss  as 
his  invention.  The  magazine,  in  the  l)Utt-stock  like  the  Spencer,  runs  under 
instead  of  over  the  breech  piece,  and  brings  the  cartridge  into  the  receiver 
through  an  inclined  opening  in  the  liottom.  A  spiral  spring  is  used  with  fol- 
lower. Centre  (ire  cartridges  are  used.  To  insert  them  the  bolt  has  to  be 
oi>ened,  and  tliey  are  pushed  in  through  the  chamber,  endwise,  singly,  butt 
end  first.  By  a  lever  at  one  side  the  bnlt  can  be  locked  shut  for  security,  and 
the  hannner  held  from  striking.  .V  lever  at  the  other  side  shuts  ufl'  the 
nuigazine  when  necessary  for  use  as  a  single  loader.  It  is  a  remarkal)iy 
simi)le  gun,  and  it  avoids  having  an  extra  piece  to  serve  as  carrier  for  trans- 


Wiif  Department  Exhibit.  47 


fer  of  cartridges  from  the  magazine.  A  peculiar  feature  is  a  trigger  with  a 
hollow  or  curved  stem  where  it  passes  round  the  magazine.  Stops  connected 
witli  the  trigger  check  and  release  cartridges  in  the  magazine  at  the  i)roi)cr 
time. 

104.  Chaffee  Reece  Magazine  Rifle;  calibre,  .45;  1881. 

See  Report  of  Chief  of  Ordnance  1882.  The  ])osition  of  the  magazine 
is  nearly  the  same  as  in  the  Hotchkiss,  hut  in  jilace  of  having  a  spring  in 
the  magazine,  the  cartridges  are  forced  forward  by  .studs  on  a  bar  at  the  side 
of  the  magazine  tube.  This  bar  is  moved  l)ack  and  forth  by  a  projection  on 
the  bolt.  Another  bar,  which  does  not  move  lengthwise,  has  corresponding 
studs,  and  it  is  kept  pressed  in  by  a  spring,  the  studs  on  this  bar  keeping 
cartridges  from  slipping  back  when  the  first  bar  moves  back.  The  recipro- 
cating bar  thus  draws  the  cartridges  forward,  by  regular  successive  steps,  dis- 
tances equal  to  their  own  length.  Tlie  front  cartridge,  before  the  breech  is 
opened,  lie.s  in  a  hollow  under  the  bolt,  far  enough  forward  to  be  pushed  up 
and  into  the  chamber  as  the  bolt  is  pushed  in  after  opening.  A  hinged  gate 
in  the  butt  plate  can  be  thrown  open  to  admit  cartridges  in  filling  the  maga- 
zine tube.  This  gate  in  opening  acts  u))on  the  studded  rods  to  force  them  out 
from  the  tube,  and  allow  cartridges  to  be  dropped  clear  in  without  striking 
the  studs. 


TUBULAR  MAGAZINES  UNDF^R  THE  BARREL. 

105.  Henry  Magazine  Rifle — Sliding  Carrier  Block  ;  calibre, 

.42;   old  model. 

This  system  was  invented  about  1850,  l)ut  it  was  slow  in  conung 
into  use,  until  developed  about  1866  into  the  form  of  the  Winchester  gun 
next  described.  The  gun  is  operated  by  a  lever  swinging  forward  below. 
This  acts  on  an  elbow  joint  which  works  the  bolt  back  and  forth.  An  arm 
connected  with  the  lever  causes  a  carrier-block  to  slide  up  and  down,  trans- 
ferring the  cartridges  from  the  level  of  the  magazine  to  that  of  tlie  barrel 
when  the  liolt  is  liack,  and  drop))ing  the  lilock  when  the  bolt  is  forward, 
and  a  cartridge  pusiied  into  tlie  chambcT.  Tlic  magazine  is  charged  from 
the  front.  The  tube  is  in  two  sections,  tlie  muzzle  part  nuide  to  swing  round 
to  the  side  to  clear  the  mouth  of  the  magazine  tidie;  the  spring  being  first 
pushed  ui)  into  this  part  l)y  means  of  a  tliund)-i)iece  attached  to  the  follower, 
and  projecting  through  a  slot  cut  lengthwise  in  the  magazine  tube.  Cart- 
ridges can  then  be  dropped  into  the  tube.  A  niagaziiH;  under  the  barrel 
gives  room  for  more  cartridges  than  one  in  the  butt-stock. 

106.  Winchester    INfagazine    Rifle ;    calibre,   .45 ;    military 

model,  187G. 

This  differs  from  the  Henry  gun,  from  which  it  was  develojied,  mainly  in 
the  method  of  filling  the  magazine.  Instead  of  having  a  movable  nmzzle 
section,  the  tube  is  continuous,  and  an  opening  at  the  rear  covered  by  a 
spring  ijlate  allows  the  insertion  of  cartridges  one  at  a  time  even  when  the 


48  War  Depatiinent  Exhibit. 


gun  is  l(ja(ie«l.  Xo  otiier  means  of  loading  is  provided  than  this  method 
through  the  magazine  This  gun  attracted  mucli  attention  abroad  when 
(irstmade,  about  18(30,  and  it  was  adopted  in  Switzerland,  where  it  was  aft- 
erward displaced  by  the  Vetterlin,  next  described,  constructed  on  the  same 
magazine  principle.  The  Winchester  is  very  popular  for  sporting  purposes, 
where  small  cartridges  can  be  used.  Its  operation  depends  on  good  work- 
mansliip,  and  it  is  a  fine  piece  of  meclianism.  The  length  of  tlie  breech  sys- 
tem j.revents  its  being  used  to  best  effect  for  long  cartridges. 

107.  8\\iss   Vetterlin    ^Magazine   Rifle;    calibre,  .40  ;  about 
1868;  adopted  bj^  Switzerland  for  its  Corps  d'Elite. 

This  is  a  simple  bolt  gun,  the  bolt  operating  a  sliding  carrier  block  like 
tiiat  of  the  Winchester,  from  which  magazine  system  it  is  derived.  The 
same  remarks  as  to  filling  the  magazine  and  loading  apply  to  this  as  to  the 
Winchester.  The  bolt  differs  from  the  Mauser  bolt  in  having  the  handle 
near  tiie  rear  and  bent  down  by  the  side  of  the  stock,  two  lugs  on  the  turning 
post  of  the  bolt,  near  the  rear,  catching  the  shoulders  in  the  breech  frame. 
This  rear  position  of  the  bolt  is  an  advantage  in  magazine  guns.  The  firing 
spring  is  spiral,  as  in  the  Mauser,  but  made  large  and  heavy,  though  short, 
and  ]jlaced  in  the  rear  instead  of  the  front  part  of  the  bolt.  Tliis  makes  an 
enlargement  in  rear  and  gives  a  clumsy  look. 

108.  AVard    Burton   Magazine    Rifle;    calibre,    .45;    1873; 

rocking  carrier. 

The  bolt  meclianism  of  this  gun  is  the  same  as  that  of  tlie  single  loader 
above  described  (No.  28).  Like  that  guii  the  handle  is  placed  at  the  rear  of 
the  bolt,  and  a  stop  is  provided  to  hold  the  handle  half  turned,  thereby  giving 
a  half-cock.  The  magazine  is  a  tube  under  the  barrel  with  spring  and  fol- 
lower as  above  described,  but  instead  of  a  sliding  carrier  block,  a  rocking  car- 
rier of  spoon-shape  is  used.  This  spoon  is  made  to  rock  on  horizontal  bear- 
ings at  tiie  rear.  Its  front  end  is  forced  down  by  the  bolt  in  moving  forward, 
and  up  by  the  bolt  in  moving  backward,  striking  projections  at  the  rear  end. 
The  spooii  when  down  receives  a  cartridge  from  the  magazine,  and  when  up 
it  holds  the  cartridge  inclined  upwards  towards  the  chamber,  about  at  the 
]>osition  and  slope  of  the  front  cartridge  in  tlie  Hotchkiss,  with  the  flange  end 
raised  snfHciently  for  the  bolt  to  strike  the  upper  edge  in  going  forward,  and 
so  push  the  cartridge  into  the  chamber.  A  side  lever  operates  to  hold  the 
spoDH  u]),  and  cut  off  the  magazine  when  desired  for  use  of  gun  as  single 
Inailcr.  Instead  of  loading  the  magazine  from  an  outside  opening  in  rear^ 
wliirh  allows  the  magazine  to  be  filled  even  when  the  gun  is  loaded,  as 
in  the  Winchester  and  Vetterlin,  cartridges  have  to  be  inserted  through  the 
receiver,  and  for  this  purpose  the  bolt  must  be  drawn  back,  unloading  the 
gun.  Cartridges  are  put  in  endwise,  singly,  point  first.  The  magazine 
mechanism  is  indicated  in  the  cuts  illustrating  the  new  German  and  French 
magazine  guns,  next  described,  to  which  the  remarks  about  loading,  etc., 
also  apply. 


IVar  Dcfarlvievt  F.xJiibii. 


49 


109.  Mauser    Maiiaziue    (inn;     new    (liennari    model;    cal- 
ibre, .43. 

This  is  practically  ilic  Mauser  single  li)atliiiii- iiiccliaiiisni  with  a  magazine* 
uf  tlie  Ward  Burton  typo,  having  a  rocking  carrier  or  spoon.  This  is  com- 
monly known  as  the  Kropatchcck  system,  which,  however,  was  not  known 

until  aliout  1878,  Miiile  the  Ward  r.urto'ii  was  tried  in  this  countrv  in  1873. 


Fig.  10. 

Figure  9  shows  tlie  Mauser  magazine  gun  in  longitudinal  section,  with 
Ijolt  drawn  back  and  spoon  up.  Figure  10  shows  the  same  with  holt  closed 
and  spoon  down.  A  projection  below  the  nose  of  the  spoon  serves  to  prevent 
cartridges  from  slipping  under  the  spoon  from  tlie  magazine,  and  a  detent 
operates  when  the  spoon  is  down  to  prevent  a  second  cartridge  from  follow- 
ing tlie  first  into  the  spoon.  A  cut-ofi' operates  in  a  similar  manner  as  in  the 
Ward  Burton  gun.  The  rifle  is  4-fcet  :j  inches  long,  and  with  the  bayonet  o 
feet  11  inches  long.  With  the  magazine  empty  the  gun  weighs  about  10 
pounds;  witb  it  filled,  about  11  pounds.  The  bayonet  weighs  1.7fi  pound.s. 
The  trigger  mechanism  is  so  arranged  that  a  gradual  pull  on  tlie  trigger  finally 
disengages  the  tumbler  and  permits  the  firing  pin  to  fly  forward.  The  maga- 
zine holds  8  cartridges  end  to  end.  "J'he  service  cartridge  weighs  GG3  grains. 
It  is  3.07  inches  long.  Later  cartridges  contain  SOW  grains  of  powder.  Re- 
duction of  calibre  is  now  going  on,  and  its  advantages  will  be  discussed  under 
Anuuunition.     The  French  gun  next  described  is  of  reduced  calibre. 


5° 


JV(7/    Dcparttnent  Exhibit. 


110.  The  Lebel  Magazine  Gun ;  new  French  model ;  calibre, 
.304 ;  represented  only  by  drawings  and  description. 

Tliis  is  pruotically  tlie  Freiu-li  Gras  rille  fitted  with  tlie  Kropatoheck  (or 
Ward  Burton)  magazine,  and  the  same  general  remarks  a])ply  here  as  to  tlie 
Mauser  gun,  just  described.  The  new  bolt  has  double  lugs,  as  ia  the  Lee 
bolt,  to  take  up  the  recoil  on  both  sides  the  receiver. 


Fig.  12. 
Figure  11  shows  the  spoon  down,  with  a  cartridge  lying  in  it  received 
from  the  magazine.  The  bolt  is  partly  pulled  back,  drawing  out  an  empty 
shell,  in  the  position  just  before  tilting  up  the  spoon  with  the  new  cartridge 
to  the  position  shown  in  figure  12.  For  description  of  cartridge  and  results 
with  it,  see  under  Ammunition. 

111.  Spencer  Repealing  Sliot  (iiiii;  12  bore;  1881. 

The  breech-block  in  tliis  gun  resembles  the  Peabody,  it  lieing  hinged  in 
rear,  and  made  to  move  up  and  down  in  front.  Its  special  pecidiarity  lies  in 
the  arrangement  for  operating  the  block  by  means  of  a  .sliding  handle  on  the 
magazine  tube  under  the  barrel.  This  handle  is  connected  with  fiat  bars, 
which  extend  to  the  rear,  into  the  receiver  and  along  the  breech-block.  A 
stud  on  the  inner  side  of  one  rod  fits  in  an  inclined  groove  in  the  side  of  the 


War  Department  Exhibit,  51 


breech-block,  so  that  sliding  the  handle  back  wedges  down  the  block  to  open 
the  breech.  Immediately  after  this,  an  extractor  is  operated  by  the  bar  on 
the  other  side  to  remove  the  empty  shell.  When  the  handle  is  well  back 
the  block  is  thrown  up  by  a  sprin.a;.  tossing  the  slu'U  out  above.  While  the 
block  is  up,  a  cartridge  underneath,  received  fmin  the  magazine  below  the 
barrel,  is  pushed  in  by  moving  forward  the  slide,  and  the  breech  is  closed. 
The  magazine  is  filled  from  underneath  the  breech-block. 

112.  Colt's  Magazine  Rille;  calibre,  .22;  1887. 

This  gun  is  also  operated  by  a  handle  sliding  on  the  magazine  tube  under  the 
barrel,  but  the  breech  action  is  a  bolt  system,  instead  of  the  falling  block.  A 
bar,  attached  to  the  slide,  works  a  lever  connected  with  a  cam  latch,  which 
is  hinged  at  its  forward  end  to  the  under  side  of  the  bolt  towards  the  rear. 
When  the  bolt  is  closed,  the  rear  end  of  this  cam  latch  drops  into  a  depression 
under  the  bolt  in  the  bottom  of  the  frame,  and  abuts  against  a  shoulder  in 
the  frame,  securing  the  bolt.  Drawing  back  the  handle  raises  the  cam  latch 
over  the  shoulder  and  then  pushes  back  the  bolt  so  freed.  Forcing  the  handle 
to  the  front  draws  the  bolt  forward  and  finally  swings  the  cam  latch  down 
again,  locking  the  bolt.  A  spring  extractor  on  the  bolt  withdraws  the  empty 
shell.  A  sliding  carrier  block,  moving  like  that  in  the  Winchester  and  Vet- 
terlin,  transfers  cartridges  from  tlie  magazine.  The  rear  end  of  the  magazine 
tube  can  be  swung  slightly  to  the  right  to  insert  cartridges,  a  spring  plate 
sectiring  them  from  springing  out.  This  gun  was  used  during  the  Exposi- 
tion, in  the  shooting  gallery  of  the  War  Department,  in  determining  prac- 
tically the  velocity  of  projectiles.  Loaned  by  B.  Kittredge  Arms  Company, 
Cincinnati. 


BOX    MAGAZINES    NEAR    THE    RECEIVER. 

CARTRIDGES    TOUCHING    LENGTHWISE    INSTEAD    OF     END    TO     END. 

These  magazines  are  either  detachable,  so  as  to  be  readily  replaced ;  or 
fixed  in  place  and  arranged  to  be  rapidly  refilled  by  means  of  compact  pack- 
ing cases.  The  Lee,  is  the  best  known  of  the  box  magazine  guns.  It  has  a 
detachable  magazine,  the  only  one  shown  of  this  type.  The  other  type  is  now 
coming  into  prominence  from  its  recent  adoption  in  some  form  by  several 
nations.  One  great  advantage  of  the  box  magazine  is  that  the  bullet  of  one 
cartridge  does  not  rest  against  the  primer  of  another,  and  so  the  possibility 
is  removed  of  exploding  a  cartridge  in  the  magazine,  or  injuring  the  bullet, 
by  shock  from  another  cartridge.  If  necessary  a  spring  plate  can  be  placed 
front  or  rear  to  lessen  all  shock.  In  some,  an  opening  at  the  side  allows  in- 
spection of  the  interior.  They  work  without  carrier-block  or  spoon,  though 
some,  like  the  Rubin,  have  a  catch  operated  by  the  bolt  to  check  and  release 
cartridges.  The  chief  advantage,  however,  is  that  it  enables  the  supply  of 
cartridges  to  be  rapidly  renewed.  This  becomes  more  and  more  apparent 
with  the  reduction  of  calibre  and  lengthening  of  the  cartridge.  While  box 
magazines  avoid  the  slow  process  of  inserting  cartridges  one  at  a  time  end- 
wise, some  even  of  these  fail  in  a  point  covered  in  several  tubular  magazines 
—the  power  to  refill  when  the  gun  is  loaded— and  require  tlie  refilling  to  be 
done  through  the  receiver  with  the  bolt  drawn  back. 


War  Department  Exhibit, 


113.  Lee  Magazine  Rifle  ;  calibre,  .45  ;  1870. 

This  is  a  bolt  gun,  with  an  opening  the  length  of  a  cartridge  in  the  l)()t- 
toni  of  the  receiver,  just  hack  of  the  barrel,  and  it  has  a  detachable  magazine 
which  is  inserted  from  below. 

Figure  13  is  a  longitudinal  section  showing  the  magazine  in  position. 
Figure  14  is  a  cross  section  of  the  gun,  with  the  magazine  removed,  showing 
the  opening  through  the  stock  nnder  the  receiver  for  the  insertion  of  the 
magazine.     Several  of  these  magazines  are  carried  on  a  belt.     Tliev  are  each 


Fig.  13. 


Fig.  U. 
provided  with  a  spring  and  follower  within  to  force  the  cartridges  w\>.  and 
they  arc  filled  up  in  advance  by  the  soldier,  as  it  is  intended  that  they 
should  be  saved.  They  have  to  be  stron.s,  and  they  must  be  made  care- 
fully, as  tliey  form,  when  attacVied.  a  working  part  of  the  mechanism,  and  a 
slight  deformation  would  interfere  with  their  ojieration.  When  a  magazine 
on  the  .gun  is  emptied,  it  is  di'opped  out  by  pressing  a  spring,  and  a  new  one 
already  filled  is  inserted.  A  magazine  holds  five  cartridges  of  our  service 
model,  calibre  .45,  but  more  of  smaller  calibre  could  be  carrieil.  The  gun  can 
be  used  as  a  single  loader  when  the  magazine  is  off,  as  a  spring  plate  then  covers 
the  bottom  of  the  receiver.  A  recent  a<ldition  made  for  the  proposed  arm  of 
the  English  service,  allows  this  plate  to  come  in  play  even  when  the  magazine 
is  on  the  .gun  but  not  forced  up  into  jiosition  for  feeding.     This  magazine  can 


JVar  Department  Exhibit, 


^l 


be  filled  when  on  the  gun,  if  the  holt  is  drawn  out  and  the  gun  linlnaded. 
See  Report  of  Chief  of  Ordnance  for  1SS2. 

114.  The  Rnbiu  Maiiazine  (iiiii  ;  Swiss;  18S8. 

This  has  a  magazine  set  like  the  Lee  uinler  tlie  receiver,  hut  fixed  in 
place.  To  fill  it  the  bolt  has  to  be  drawn  our,  and  cartridges  are  inserted 
through  the  receiver.  Tliey  can  be  put  in  singly,  or,  by  means  of  the  prepared 
package  shown  in  side  and  bottom  views  in  Figure  15,  can  all  be  inserted  to- 
gether. A  spring  gate,  similar  to  that  in  the  ne.\t  gun  described,  admits  cart- 
ridges at  the  top  of  the  magazine,  but  this  gate  has  to  be  worked  by  the  bolt 
to  release  cartridges  for  loading.  The  gun  could  not  be  obtained  for  exhibit, 
but  cartridges  and  [jacking  cases  were  sentfrmu  the  National  Armory,  where 
the  gun  is  now  on  trial. 


Fig.  1.5. 
This  package  or  case,  liolding  7  t'artridges,  is  made  of  light  tin,  antl  the 
cartridges  are  lield  in  by  flexible  lips  at  the  open  bottom.  When  the  case  is 
placed  over  the  magazine,  the  cartridges  are  ])ushed  down  ])y  the  thumb  or 
finger,  passing  through  the  slot  in  the  case,  and  the  lips  yield,  allowing  the 
cartridges  to  pass  at  oiu^e  to  the  magazine.  These  cases  are  light  and  cheap, 
and  they  require  no  s])ring.  Tliey  can  be  carritul  like  detachable  magazines  on 
the  belt ;  and  cartridges  can  l)e  i)acked  in  tiiem  at  the  arsenals  for  issue  to  the 
soldiers.  The  idea  involved  in  tlie  fixed  magazine  so  filled  is,  that  it  is  prefer- 
able to  have  a  magazine  that  can  he  rapi<lly  fiUe<1,  and  that  will  form  a  part  of 
the  gun,  receiving  thesauu'  care  as  the  gini  itself,  than  to  rini  the  risk  of  losing 
a  detachable  magazine,  or  damaging  it,  so  reducing  the  gun  to  a  single  loader- 

115.  Livermore-Russell  Ma^nziiuWJuii  ;   ]S70. 

The  uuigazine  is  ])laced  at  the  side,  extending  downward,  as  shown  in 
Figure  16,  an  opening  at  the  side  of  the  receiver,  admitting  cartridges  from 
the  magazine  to  the  front  of  the  bolt  when  drawn  Ijack  ;  but  the  special  feature 
is  the  spring-gate  at  the  top,  clo.sing  an  outer  mouth.  This  ailows  cartridges 
to  be  inserted  singly,  or,  by  means  of  a  packing  case,  all  together,  even  when 
the  gun  is  loaded;  l)ut prevents  their  exit  there  and  guides  them  towards  the 


54 


War  Department  Exhibit. 


other  opening  leading  to  the  receiver.  The  feed  of  the  magazine  can  be  cut  off 
by  a  stop,  which  simply  keeps  the  bolt  from  drawing  Itack  far  enough  to  catch 
the  flange  of  a  cartridge,  and  the  gun  can  tlien  be  used  as  a  single  loader.  The 
magazine  feeds  cartriilgcs  witliout  the  use  of  special  mechanism  operated  by 
the  bolt. 


Fig.  16.  Fig.  l-". 

The  position  of  the  magazine  allows  an  opening  to  be  made  in  the  side 
through  which  the  soldier  can  sec  how  many  cartridges  remain  in  reserve. 

The  packing  case  described  above  for  filling  such  magazines  was  originally 
made  for  this  gun.  Fig.  17  represents  the  original  design  practically  identical 
with  that  shown  in  Fig.  In.  Norton's  "American  Inventions  in  Fire  Arras," 
published  by  Ticknor  &  Co.  in  1882,  says  of  this  gun  as  originally  designed : 
"The  object  of  the  invention  is  two-fold  :  First,  to  provide  a  magazine  which 
can  be  rapidly  filled,  whether  the  gun  is  loaded  or  not,  without  necessarily 
detaching  it  from  the  gun.  Second,  to  provide  a  breech-closing  bolt  system 
which  can  be  oi)erated  by  a  simple  forward  and  back  niotion  of  the  hand." 
The  latter  arrangement  was  intended  to  secure  (juick  action  of  the  bolt  and 
greater  rapidity  of  firing  from  the  magazine.  The  bolt  system  referred  to  by 
Norton  is  quite  similar  to  that  of  the  new  Mannlicher  gun  recently  adopted 
in  Austria  and  next  described,  but  the  gun  in  the  exhibit  has  practically  the 
Mauser  or  Hotchkiss  bolt. 

116.  Mannlicher  (Austrian)  Magazine  Gun  ;  1888. 

In  the  Mannlicher  gun  the  bolt  is  operated  by  a  simple  forward  and  back 
motion  of  the  hand,  all  other  military  bolt  guns  in  use  requiring  the  bolt  to 
be  turned  to  secure  it  after  closing,  or  to  unlock  it  for  opening.  Figure  18 
shows  a  longitudinal  section  of  this  gun.  The  handle  is  indicated  by  the 
round  knob  at  the  rear,  connected  with  a  piece  which  slides  in  and  out  at  the 
end  of  the  bolt,  and  whioh  has  a  wedge-shaped  projection  below.  Hinged  at 
the  front  to  the  under  side  of  the  l)olt,  in  rear  of  the  magazine,  is  a  brace,  or 
cam  latch,  shown  in  the  drawing,  and  the  wedge  ai)ove  referred  to  works  in  a 
slot  in  the  rear  of  this  brace,  forcing  the  latter  down  when  the  bolt  is  pushed 
well  forward,  and  securing  it  against  a  shoulder  in  the  frame  of  the  gun,  as 
here  shown.     Drawing  back  the  handle  raises  the  brace  by  inclined  projecting 


War  Department  Exhibit. 


55 


lips  on  the  wedge,  and  allows  the  bolt  to  slip  back.    This  method  of  locking 
the  bolt  by  a  brace  or  cam  has  been  adopted  in  the  Colt  magazine  gun  above 


Kis.  18. 


iig.  111. 
described.     The  Mannliclicr  iiKi^jiziiu'  is  iiiuicr  the  locciver,  and  to  HII  il  tiit- 


56 


War  Department  Exhibit. 


bolt  has  to  be  drawn  back.     A  special  cartridge  feed  case  is  used  w  itli  this 
gun,  as  shown  in  Figure  19. 

This  case  liolds  the  flange  entls  only  of  the  cartridges,  and  the  tujj  one 
alone  can  move  forward.  The  whole  package,  case  and  all,  is  inserted  from 
above  into  the  magazine,  tlie  spring  in  the  magazine  acting  through  tlie  case 
on  the  cartridges.  The  emptied  case  either  falls  out  at  the  bottom  of  tiu- 
magazine  or  it  is  forced  out  by  inserting  another  full  case.  Cartridges  can 
not  lie  inserted  one  at  a  time  into  the  magazine,  as  the  case  forms  part  of 
the  meciianism  to  control  the  cartridges,  making  a  sort  of  cross  between  a 
detachable  and  fi.ved  magazine.  There  seems  to  be  no  provisio7i  for  using 
the  gun  as  a  single  loader. 

117.  St'liullioir  Magazine  dun  (Aiit-trian  Invention);    1888. 

The  .Schulhoflf  magazine  gun,  also  an  Austrian  invention,  is  shown  in 
Figure  20.  Its  construction  is  novel  and  interesting.  The  magazine  is  a  fixed 
hollow  drum  under  the  receiver.     An  a.xial  shaft  nearly  parallel  to  the  barrel 


Fig.  20. 

runs  through  tbe  drum,  and  lliis  carries  a  radial  plate  which  revolves  witli 
the  shaft  and  acts  as  a  "  follower,"  pushing  before  it  cartridges  placed  in  the 
magazine,  and  delivering  them  at  an  opening  in  the  bottom  of  the  receiver, 
where  they  can  be  caught  by  the  bolt  in  loading.  An  oi>ening  on  the  right 
hand  side  of  the  magazine  allows  cartridges  to  be  inserted,  and  a  hinged  lid 
closes  the  ojiening.     The  shaft  is  turned  by  a  spiral  spring  round  the  front  end. 

The  figure  is  a  jierspective  view  of  the  gun,  showing  the  lid  of  magazine 
open,  and  exposing  the  interior  with  its  shaft,  follower  and  spring. 

Figure  21  is  a  cross  section,  actual  size,  through  the  magazine  full  of  (;art- 
ridges,  as  seen  looking  from  the  front.     The  lid  is  shown  closed. 

Figure  22  is  a  cross  section,  reduced  size,  just  in  rear  of  the  magazine, 
looking  towards  the  front,  showing  that  the   lid  in  opening  is  made  to  re- 


IVaf^  Department  Exhibit. 


57 


volve  the  shaft  to  a  position  where  the  follower  clears  the  entrance.  Closinj,' 
the  lid  releases  the  shaft  and  brings  the  pressure  from  the  spring  against  the 
cartridges. 

The  rartriihic  ca.^rx  described  above  are  also  used  to  rapidly  lill  the  Schul- 
hoff  magazine,  but  loose  cartridges  can  be  thrown  in  readily.  "  This  magazine 
holds  nine  of  the  new  small  calibre  cartridges.  Like  Xo.  115  above,  it  is  un- 
necessary to  unload  the  piece  to  till  the  magazine;    but  in  the  ScliulhotTit  is 


necessary  to  make  a  separate  motion  to  open  the  magazine  for  insertion  of 
cartridges.  This  magazine  might  have  an  opening  round  the  drum  to  show 
the  number  of  cartridges  in  reserve.  The  gun  is  a  natural  development  from 
the  Swingle  revolving  gun.  No.  98.  The  "  cut-oif  "  for  the  magazuie  is  a  slide, 
the  handle  of  which  is  indicated  in  Fig.  24,  on  the  side  opposite  the  lid.     It 


is  bent  to  the  outer  surface  of  the  drum,  and  pushing  the  handle,  slips  it 
round  so  that  the  end  comes  over  the  opening  into  the  receiver.  In  the 
model  here  shown  it  seems  to  interfere  with  the  extraction  of  the  empty 
shell.  Limiting  the  retraction  of  the  bolt,  as  described  above,  would  answer 
for  this  or  anv  other  svstem  of  box  magazine. 


IVat  Depatiment  Exhibit. 


Schulhoff  Magazine  Pistol.  A  pistol  is  constructed  by  Schulhotf  with  a 
magazine  working  on  the  same  principle.  It  has  a  bolt  mechanism,  which  is 
operated  by  the  trigger.  The  trigger  is  double,  and  pressure  on  the  forward 
part  draws  out  the  bolt,  ejecting  the  old  shell,  and  then  closes  the  bolt,  push- 
ing in  a  new  cartridge.  Further  motion  of  this  trigger  causes  it  to  strike  the 
second  trigger  and  tire  the  pistol.  The  same  kind  of  cartridge  case  is  used  to 
fill  the  pistol  magazine  as  is  used  for  the  rifle. 

The  Schulhotf  and  Mannlicher  guns,  together  with  the  Gras  and  Vctterlin, 
were  obtained  through  the  special  efforts  of  Capt.  Henry  Metcalfe,  Ordnance 
Dept.  at  the  U.  S.  Military  Academy. 


A  form  of  box  magazine,  which  has  recently  attracted  much  attention,  is 
the  Burton.  It  has  a  side  hopper,  extending  above  the  barrel,  feeding  cart- 
ridges down  by  gravity.     No  model  of  this  system  could  be  obtained. 


REVIEW    OF    MAGAZINE    GUNS. 

A  progression  is  here  shown  from  magazines  requiring  special  carriers,  or 
movable  guides,  to  transfer  the  cartridges  from  the  magazine  to  the  barrel, — 
first,  the  spring  guide  of  the  Spencer,  which  often  gave  trouble ;  next  the 
sliding  carrier  of  the  Henry  and  Winchester,  followed  in  the  Vctterlin  ;  then 
the  rocking  carrier  of  the  Ward  Burton.  Kropatcheck,  and  the  new  French 
and  German  Guns, — to  systems  requiring  no  special  carrier,  the  Hotchkiss 
butt-stock  magazine,  and,  lastly,  the  box  magazines,  which  now  operate 
universally  without  a  carrier.  A  device  has  been  patented,  by  which  the 
carrier  is  dispensed  with,  even  for  a  tubular  magazine  under  the  barrel,  but 
of  its  success  nothing  is  reported.  Some  tubular  magazines  run  along  the 
top  or  side  of  the  barrel.  One  of  the  earliest  box  magazines — the  Lccwe- — 
was  placed  at  the  side  or  wrapped  round  the  stock  at  the  receiver,  with  a 
rocking  piece  at  the  mouth  to  transfer  cartridges.  To  fill  the  magazine  the 
follower  spring  had  to  be  compressed  by  hand,  and  the  mouth-piece  thrown 
back  to  admit  cartridges.  There  was  no  automatic  device  to  keep  cartridges 
from  slipping  out.  Both  the  butt  stock  and  box  magazines,  on  account  of 
having  cartridges  nearer  the  shoulder,  the  point  of  motion,  have  advantage 
over  the  other  in  changing  the  balance  less  as  the  shots  are  fired  away.  The 
box  magazine  gives  the  best  opportunities  for  inspecting  the  interior  to  see 
how  raanj'  cartridges  remain. 

Different  theories  are  held  about  the  proper  use  of  magazines,  and  even 
as  to  the  propriety  of  their  use  at  all.  The  Russian  authorities  have  decided 
against  a  magazine  rifle.  Some  hold  that  a  simple  breech  loader  is  sufficient, 
with  means  for  quickly  finding  and  inserting  a  cartridge,  taking  the  ground 
that  with  the  possibility  of  firing  more  rapidly  too  much  ammunition  will  be 
wasted,  without  the  means  of  supplying  it  in  sufiicient  ([uantities.  The  re- 
duction of  calibre  makes  it  possible  for  the  soldier  to  carry  more  cartridges, 
and  they  can  be  supplied  in  greater  quantities  with  the  same  means  of  trans- 
portation as  before.  It  is  certainly  true  tliat  the  box  magazine  is  the  only  one 
that  can  compete  with  the  best  single  loaders  in  continuous  firing,  on  account 
of  the  time  required  to  replenish   the   otliers.     It  is  rarely  the  case,  how- 


War  Department  Exhibit.  59 

ever,  that  it  is  necessary  to  keep  up  a  rapid  fire  for  more  than  a  short  inter- 
val ;  and  some  advocates  of  the  magazine,  holding  that  it  should  only  he  used 
as  a  reserve  in  case  of  such  emergency,  think  it  unnecessary  to  provide  for 
rapidly  refilling  it;  but  others  recognize  the  possibility  of  a  succession  of 
emergencies  demanding  power  of  rapidly  replenishing  the  magazhie,  but  not 
requiring  it  to  be  used  for  ordinary  fire. 

The  great  problem  seems  to  be  to  provide  a  means  of  controlling  the  use 
of  the  magazine.  Detachable  magazines  and  packing  cases  for  rapid  relilling 
seem  to  promise  well  for  this  purpose,  and  the  advantage  of  being  able  to  in- 
spect the  magazine  through  open  sides  is  recognized.  The  Mannlicher  sys- 
tem would  perhaps  allow  greatest  control  over  the  number  of  cartridges  so 
used,  as  no  means  are  provided  for  putting  cartridges  in  singly,  and  the  use 
of  packages  can  be  readily  observed;  but  it  may  often  be  desirable  to  refill  a 
partly  emptied  magazine,  and  the  need  to  load  singly  is  often  imperative,  for 
no  system  allows  replenishing  as  quickly  as  a  single  shot  can  be  put  in,  and 
the  soldier  would  be  at  a  disadvantage  when  his  magazine  was  emptied  if  he 
must  needs  wait  till  the  magazine  was  filled  again.  He  should  be  able  to  fill 
his  magazine  by  putting  in  cartridges  one  at  a  time  or  all  together,  and  do 
either  with  his  gun  loaded  or  not. 

Great  opposition  was  at  first  made  to  the  simple  breech  loader,  from  the 
same  fear  that  cartridges  would  be  shot  away  too  fast,  but  that  result  has  not 
followed.  Improved  methods,  too,  have  been  devised  for  supjilying  a  fighting 
line  of  troops  with  cartridges,  and  small  calibre  cartridges  now  used  abroad 
offer  great  advantages  over  the  old  in  the  number  a  man  can  carry.  102  Heb- 
ler  cartridges,  calibre,  .31,  weigh  only  as  much  as  80  Mauser  cartridges  of  cal- 
ibre .43.  It  does  not  follow  that  trained  troops  are  to  shoot  too  fast  because 
they  can  do  so,  but  the  power  to  reload  rapidly  gives  the  soldier  confidence 
and  enables  him  to  aim  more  deliberately.  For  raw  troops  the  danger  is 
greater,  and  it  is  dout)tfal  whether  they  should  be  sup])lied  with  magazine 
guns. 


AUTOMATIC    RECOIL    GUNS. 

What  will  result  from  the  use  of  magazine  guns  operating  by  their  own 
recoil  remains  tabe  seen.  Maxim,  the  inventor  of  the  automatic  recoil  raa" 
chine  gun,  has  also  invented  a  musket  acting  on  a  similar  principle,  in  the 
latest  form  practically  adopting  the  system  of  feeding  used  in  the  Swingle  re- 
volver gun  above  described ;  and  in  an  earlier  form  using  a  modification  of  the 
Winchester  system  operated  by  a  spring  butt  plate.  In  the  Freddi  rifle  the 
recoil  pulls  out  the  breech  bolt  for  the  insertion  of  a  cartridge  by  haiid,  and 
compresses  a  spring  so  that  on  pressing  a  button  the  breech  closes  again.  In 
both  systems  the  firing  is  controlled  by  a  trigger,  but  in  the  Maxim,  by  keeping 
the  trigger  pressed  back,  all  the  shots  in  the  magazine  will  be  fired  in  rapid 
succession.     The  operation  of  refilling  the  magazine  is,  however,  very  slow. 


6o  IVar  Department  Exhibit. 


a:\[muxitiok 

Projectiles  of  larger  calibre  have  been  described  under  Cannon.  This 
division  includes  fuzes,  primers,  powder  and  small  arm  ammunition. 

FUZES  FOR  SHELL  AND  SHRAPNEL. 
Those  on  exhibition  are  for  the  most  part  arranged  on  four  boards  from 
Frankford  Arsenal.     The  collection  embraces  most  of  those  that  were  used 
during  the  war. 

1.  Simple  time,  fuzes  in  wood,  metal,  and  paper  cases.  These  require  the 
passage  of  flame  over  the  outer  end  of  the  fuze  to  produce  ignition.  They 
are  of  wood,  metal,  or  paper. 

In  the  wooden  fuze  the  burning  composition  is  driven  into  a  cylindrical 
hole  bored  in  a  conical  plug  which  can  be  cut  off  to  allow  the  desired  length 
of  burning.  The  specimens  shown  are  for  the  6  and  12-pounder  guns,  8-in., 
12-in.,  and  13-in.  mortar. 

In  the  vietal  fuze  the  com])osition  is  packed  in  an  annular  slot  in  a  thick 
metal  disk  screw  plug.  The  specimens  shown  are  the  Austrian,  Babbitt,  Bor- 
mann,  Laidley-Bormann,  and  the  Wright. 

The  paper  faze  consists  of  a  conical  paper  case,  formed  by  rolling  a  trian- 
gular strip  of  stout  paper  around  a  cylindrical'  former,  which  when  withdrawn 
leaves  a  cylindrical  bore  into  which  the  fuze  composition  is  driven.  Some  of 
the  above  fuzes  have  a  priming  of  powder  and  quick-match  to  facilitate 
ignition. 

The  specimens  of  U.  S.  i)aper  fuzes  shown  are  for  4,  5,  8,  10,  12,  15,  20,  25, 
30,  35,  and  40  seconds,  with  two  of  Rebel  make  of  5  and  15  seconds. 

The  paper  fuzes  have  to  be  inserted  in  fuze  phiga,  hollow  jilugs  of  wood 
or  metal  driven  or  screwed  into  the  fuze  hole  of  the  shell. 

The  wooden  fuze  plugs  shown  are  for  6  and  12-pounder  guns,  4>^  in.  Siege 
rifle,  13  in.  mortar,  3-inch  rifle,  10-inch  sea-coast  gun,  and  8-inch  sea-coast 
mortar.    The  metal  plugs  are  of  Dyer,  Hotchkiss,  and  Parrott  patterns. 

2.  Special  Time  Fuzes  and  Fuze  Plugs. 

These  are  fitted  with  special  features,  such  as  hoods  to  direct  flame  to  the 
fuze,  water  caps  to  protect  open  fuzes  from  contact  with  water  in  burning, 
holes  in  fuze  plugs  to  allow  boring  into  paper  fuze  without  removal,  and  ig- 
niters by  which  the  shock  of  discharge  sets  fire  to  the  time  fuze  without  pass- 
age of  flame  over  the  projectile. 

The  igniters  are  the  most  important. 

The  following  are  the  characteristic  igniters,  others  differing  rather  in 
mechanical  arrangement  than  in  principle  : 

Laidleifs  iriniter,  still  used  in  3-inch  rifle,  consists  of  a  snuUl  brass  tube, 
closed  at  one  end,  filled  with  friction  powder  in  which  is  embedded  a  rough- 
ened wire  projecting  at  the  open  end  and  there  weighted  with  lead.  Two  ig- 
niters are  j)laced  open  end  first  in  small  holes  bored  in  the  front  of  the  plug 
by  the  side  of  tlie  time  fuze  hole,  then,  on  the  sudden  forward  motion  of  the 
shell  at  time  of  discharge,  the  lead  weights  hang  back,  drawing  out  the  wires 


War  Department  ExhiMt. 


and  igniting  the  friction  powder.  The  fire  is  comnuuiicatecrto-thrHine  fuze 
through  small  holes  near  the  closed  end  of  igniter  tube. 

Stevens'  igniter  has  a  plunger,  suspended  by  a  loop  in  tiie  front  end.  On 
tiring,  the  plunger  hangs  back,  brciaks  the  loop  and  strikes  a  percussion  com- 
position in  rear,  igniting  the  time  fuze.  To  the  Stevens'  class  belongs  the 
Russian  fuze,  described  p.  836  War  Department  Report  on  Die  Centennial  Ex- 
position of  1876,  the  plunger  being  held  in  front  by  an  axial  wire,  whicli  is 
twisted  and  pulled  apart  by  the  discharge. 

Armstrong's  igniter  contains  a  sphere  of  percussion  composition  wliicb  is 
crushed  by  the  discharge,  so  igniting  the  time  fuze. 

The  following  fuzes  of  this  class  are  shown:  Parrot,  with  water  cap; 
Hubbell,  with  water  cap;  Stevens,  with  igniter ;  Rebel,  with  igniter,  wooden 
plug;  Laidley,  with  igniter  and  water  cap;  Laidley,  with  igniter;  Ilotchkiss, 
with  water  cap;  ITotchkiss,  with  igniter  and  w'ater  cap; '3-inch  gun.  with 
water  cap;  Foreign,  with  igniter  and  water  cap;  Arick,  with  igniter;  Taylor, 
with  hood;  Sea-Coast,  with  water  cap;  Navy,  witli  water  cap;  Navy,  with 
water  cap  and  bushing;  Hotchkiss,  with  water  cap  and  igniter;  Navy,  with 
water  cap;  Navy,  w'itli  water  cap;  Adams'  Hand  Grenade,  with  igniter. 

The  following  forms,  though  more  strictly  time  fuzes,  only,  with  special 
igniters,  are  placed  on  board  4  with  combination  fuzes :  Sawyer's,  Armstrong's, 
Shenkle's. 

3.  Impact  fuzes — conrussion  and  percussion. 

Concussion  fuzes  are  those  that  are  ignited  by  the  impact  of  the  jirojectile 
at  any  point  of  its  surface,  and  they  are  applicable  to  spherical  jirojectiles. 
Percussion  fuzes  are  especially  suited  to  elongated  projectiles,  and  they  are 
fired  by  the  impact  when  the  projectile  strikes  head  on. 

In  general,  percussion  fuzes  act  by  means  of  a  plunger,  whicli  moves  for- 
ward in  the  projectile  on  impact,  and  either  strikes  a  percussion  composition 
or  draws  a  roughened  wire  through  a  mass  of  friction  powder. 

Varieties  of  impact  fuzes  shown  are  the  Absterdam,  Butler,  Curran,  old 
pattern  Hotclikiss,  James,  Janezeck  and  Simpson,  Laidley,  Parmtt,  Patter- 
son, Shenkle,  Petman,  and  several  of  Rebel  pattern. 

The  latest  and  most  approved  form  of  jiercussion  fuze,  shown  on  a  se{)a- 
rate  board  prepared  at  Frankford  Arsenal,  is  the  new  Ilotchkiss,  which  com- 
bines the  following  principles,  illustrated  by  the  different  fuzes  mentioned 
above.  Before  discharge  of  piece,  the  plunger  can  not  be  moved  by  any  or- 
dinary shock,  and  can  not  come  in  contact  with  the  primer.  The  shock  of 
discharge  forces  the  plunger  l)ack,  leaving  it  free  to  move  forward  and  strike 
the  can  (Mi  imoact. 


HOTCHKISS    BASE    PERCUSSION    FUZE. 

This  fuze  consists  of  a  brass  screw  plug,  enclosing  a  plunger  of  lead  sur- 
rounded by  a  brass  band.  A  pin,  slightly  longer  than  the  plunger,  is  em- 
bedded in  the  lead,  with  its  point  so  far  in,  that  it  can  not  strike  tlie  cap  in 
the  front  of  the  fuze.  The  sliock  of  discharge  drives  tiie  i)lunger  liack  on  the 
pin,  leaving  the  point  projecting  to  the  front,  the  lead  still  holding  it  tiglit- 
On  impact,  the  plunger  is  thrown  forward  and  the  projecting  pin  explodes 
the  cap.  This  fuze  is  intended  to  be  placed  in  the  base  of  a  shell,  and  it  is  made 
with  a  flange  to  act  as  a  gas  check  and  keep  the  powder  gas  from  getting  into 


62 


War  Department  Exhibit. 


the  sliell  past  the  fuze.  A  front  fuze,  liaving  tlie  same  kind  of  plunger,  is 
also  used  by  Hotehkiss. 

4.   ('oinbinatioii  Fnzex. 

This  name  is  given  to  fuzes  which,  besides  to  the  time  fuze  to  explode  the 
shell  within  a  certain  time,  have  a  concussion  or  percussion  device  which  will 
explode  the  shell  on  impact  if  the  time  fuze  fails,  or  if  the  projectile  strikes 
before  the  time  fuze  is  burned  tlirough. 

The  following  varieties  are  shown  on  board  4:  Mclntire,  Woodbridge, 
Drake,  Treadwell-Splingard,  Clapp,  Tice,  Belgian,  etc. 

The  Belgian  illustrates  the  use  of  an  annular  time  fuze  in  the  condjination. 


TWO    NEW    FORMS    ARE    SHOWN    ON    SEPARATE    BOARDS. 

1st.  New  Armstrong  Combination  Fuze.  (Received  from  New  York 
Arsenal.) 

Tills  consists  of  a  brass  fuze  plug  containing,  at  the  front  end,  a  cylin. 
drical  metal  plunger  held  in  place  liy  a  soft  copper  wire  connecting  it  radiallj' 
on  one  side  with  the  wall  of  the  plug.  A  jirimer  is  placed  in  the  base  of  the 
plunger.  The  shock  of  discharge  shears  ofl"  tlie  wire,  throwing  the  plunger 
back  and  strikintr  the  primer  against  a  ])r()jciliiig  pin.    (See  Figure  2.'1)    This 


Fig.  23. 
ignites  a  quick  burning  composition  on  the  inner  side  of  a  movable  ring,  and 
(lame  communicates  through  a  small  hole  witlithe  time  fuze  composition  which 
is  packed  in  an  annular  slot  in  the  body  of  the  plug.  The  ring  can  be  turned 
to  bring  the  h  )le  over  any  desired  i)art  of  the  time  fuze,  and  give  proper 
length  of  burning  to  6  seconds.  In  the  rear  part  of  the  plug  is  another 
plunger  having  a  cap  at  the  front  end  and  a  jierforation  through  to  tlie  rear 
filled  with  quick  powder.  This  plunger  is  double,  consisting  of  a  plunger  of 
lead  within  a  ring  of  brass.  Before  firing,  the  inner  plunger  which  holds  the 
primer  is  kept  well  to  the  rear  of  the  cavity  by  a  spring  which  surrounds  it 
and  keeps  the  outer  ring  forward.     The  shock  of  discharge  drives  the  ring 


War  Depatiment  Exhibit. 


63 


back,  and  on  impact  the  wliole  plunger  moves  forward,  tlie  primer  .striking  a 
pin  projecting  from  tlie  front  of  the  cavity. 

2nd  Col.  D.  W.  Flagler's  Fuze.  (Received  from  Frankford  Arsenal.) 
This  fuze  IS  like  the  Armstrong,  in  having  two  plungers,  the  time 
plunger  in  the  front,  and  the  impact  iilunger  in  rear  (as  shown  in  figure 
24),  but  the  means  of  holding  them  differ,  and  the  fuze  comi)Osition  is 
arranged  differently.  The  front  plunger  is  held  in  place  by  an  axial  wire 
at  the  forward  end,  similar  to  that  described  in  the  Russian  time  fuze? 
above.     The   rear  plunger  is   mude  on  the  principle  described  in  the  new 


Fig.  24. 
Hotchkiss  percussion  fuze.  The  fuze  composition  is  contained  in  the  movable 
ring  itself,  instead  of  in  the  liody  of  the  plug,  and  the  latter  has  only  a  pass- 
age filled  with  c^uick  powder  leading  to  the  interior  of  the  shell.  The  parts 
are  arranged  to  increase  the  sensitiveness  of  both  the  time  and  percussion 
parts,  and  especially  to  make  them  uniforndy  sensitive.  A  restraining  disk 
protects  the  percussion  igniter  from  the  plunger  when  in  the  gun,  and  from 
pressures  caused  bj'  the  atmospheric  retardation  of  the  projectile  during 
flight.  This  arrangement  gives  a  verj'  efficient  and  compact  fuze,  less  than 
%ths  the  length  of  the  Armstrong,  enabling  the  point  to  be  made  more  solid. 
It  is  graduated  to  burn  up  to  20  seconds. 


PRIMERS  x^OR  CANNON. 

The  Service  Friction  Primer  consists  of  a  small  tube  drawn  from  a  flat  disk 
of  copper,  filled  with  rifle  powder  and  fitted  with  a  branch  tube  at  the  closed 
end.  This  branch  contains  friction  jiowder,  and  a  serrated  brass  wire  passes 
through  it,  ending  in  a  loop  outside.  To  fire  the  gun  the  long  tube  is  inserted 
in  the  vent,  and  a  lanyard  is  hooked  to  the  loop  of  the  wire.  Pulling  on  the 
lanyard  draws  out  the  ware,  igniting  the  composition  by  friction,  discharging 
the  powder  and  communicating  fire  to  the  charge  in  the  gun.     An  improved 


64  PVar  Department  Exhibit. 

lanyard  having  a  sliding  handlf  is  shown.  Tiie  lanyard  is  held  taut,  and  the 
slide  is  l>rought  sharply  up  against  a  knot  on  the  top. 

Electric  Primers  arc  also  shown  in  various  stjdes  of  manufacture.  In 
these  the  tube  is  enlarged  at  the  toj>  for  the  insertion  of  an  electric  fuze,  with 
wire  connections  for  exploding  the  primer  by  electric  battery  or  magneto- 
electric  exi)loder. 

Ohtirrntinij  Primers  are  shown  on  the  same  board.  These  primers  are  so 
constructed  that  they  prevent  the  escape  of  gas  through  the  vent  in  firing. 
The  tube  is  made  of  brass,  larger  in  diameter  than  the  old  primer,  and  a  screw 
thread  near  the  closed  end  allows  them  to  be  screwed  in  to  the  vent,  enlarged 
and  tapped  at  the  outer  end  for  this  jjiirpose.  The  gas  pressure  forces  the 
mouth  of  the  tube  against  the  walls  of  the  vent  and  prevents  escape  of  gas, 
the  action  being  similar  to  that  of  the  metallic  cartridge.  They  are  of  two 
kinds,  friction  and  electric  primers.  A  hole  in  the  solid  end  admits  the  wire 
for  tlie  friction  primer,  or  the  insulated  wires  for  the  electric  primer.  In  the 
friction  primers  the  wire  Ijas  a  swelling  within  the  tube  to  prevent  its  being 
drawn  completely  out,  and  this  fills  the  hole  after  ignition,  preventing  escape 
of  gas.  The  electric  wires  of  the  electric  primer  pass  through  a  disk  of  in- 
sulating material — vulcanized  fibre — which  covers  the  aperture  from  the  in- 
side, and  prevents  escape  of  gas  past  the  wires. 


POWDER  AND  SMALL  ARM  AMMUNITION. 

POWDER. 

Specimens  of  powder  of  various  grain  are  shown,  from  that  used  for 
small  arms  to  the  large  blocks  used  for  heavy  guns.  Samples  of  large  grain 
powder — hexagonal,  sphero-hexagonal,  mammoth  and  cubical — with  some  of 
the  prismatic  perforated  grains,  both  of  black  and  brown  ("  coco  ")  powder, 
were  supplied  through  the  courtesy  of  E.  I.  Dupout  de  Nemours  &  Co.,  Wil- 
mington, Delaware;  and  cartridges  such  as  are  used  for  the  U.  S.  r2-inch  rifle 
were  exhibited,  made  up  of  wooden  blocks  representing  the  prismatic  grains. 
The  two  cartridges  shown  form  one  charge  together,  weighing  2G5  pounds. 

ELONGATED    BULLETS. 

Most  of  these  are  arranged  on  boards  received  from  the  Military  Acad- 
emy, showing  about  100  varieties,  and  embracing  the  French  bullet  for  the 
caral)ine  a  tige,  one  of  the  earliest  forms,  made  to  rest  on  a  pin  projecting  from 
the  bottom  of  the  bore,  and  forced  into  the  rifling  by  blows  of  the  ramrod ; 
the  Minnie  bullet,  1885,  made  with  a  hollow  base  to  allow  expansion  by 
pressure  of  powder  in  firing;  Jennings,  containing  powder  charge  in  base; 
the  Austrian  explosive  bullet  for  blowing  up  ammunition  chests;  also  many 
others,  showing  steps  of  improvement  to  the  present  day. 

In  addition  to  these  bullets  there  is  shown  a  steel  bullet  with  a  copper 
ring,  like  that  on  the  Butler  shot  for  heavy  guns,  to  take  the  rifling.  This 
was  devised  by  Major  Geo.  W.  Meker,  Ordnance  Department,  to  be  fired  from 
the  .45  calibre  service  Springfield  rifle  in  experiments  on  iron  and  steel  plates 
of  moderate  thickness,  for  calculation  of  cIT'cct  of  large  steel  shot  on  heavy 
armor. 


War  Department  Exhibit. 


65 


A  bullet  coated  with  copper,  made  at  Colt's  Armory  as  early  as  1884,  is 
also  sliown,  with  specimens  of  the  new  small  calibre  lead  bullets  sheathed 
with  copper  and  steel,  and  one  of  very  recent  pattern  wound  with  steel  wire. 

An  interesting  revolver  bullet  of  recent  invention  is  shown  in  Figure  25. 
This  is  made  up  of  two  parts,  one  solid  forming  the  base,  and  one  split  at  the 
rear  into  three  sections,  but  united  at  the  point.    The  figure  shows  the  scpar- 


Fig.  25. 
ate  parts,  and  on  their  right  the  appearance  of  the  whole  bullet  prepared  for 
loading.  In  firing,  the  parts  separate,  and  though  the  penetration  is  not  very 
great,  it  is  claimed  that  at  short  ranges  it  is  very  effective,  particularly  for 
mounted  practice.  This  bullet  is  the  invention  of  Capt.  Henry  T.  Nowlan, 
7th  Cavalrj^,  who  claims  that  pistol  practice  should  not  be  attempted  by 
mounted  men  except  at  very  short  ranges. 

SMALL    ARM    CAllTRIDGES/ 

Fifty-six  specimens  of  foreign  and  American  cartridges  are  arranged  on 
a  board  received  from  the  Military  Academy.  These  include,  with  many 
others,  some  of  the  earlier  forms  of  self-primed  cartridges :  the  needle  gun 
cartridge ;  Morse's  American  cartridge,  with  metallic  shell  and  rubber  base, 
1858 ;  Boxer  cartridge,  thin  brass,  wrapped,  with  iron  head,  for  Martini-Henry 
rifle.  Besides  these  there  is  a  large  collection  giving  an  historical  series, 
to  show  the  progressive  stages  of  manufacture  from  early  cartridges  for 
muzzle  loaders  to  the  latest  cartridges  for  modern  breech  loaders.  All  but 
the  new  small  calibre  cartridges  in  this  collection  are  from  Frankford  Arsenal. 

1.  Paper  ammunition,  not  fixed. 

Round  and  elongated  bullet  and  buckshot  cartridges ;  powder  and  bullet 
Avrapped  in  a  paper  cover.     Twenty-five  specimens. 

2.  Paper  and  linen  ammunition,  fixed. 

Wrapper  round  the  powder  inflammable.  Could  be  inserted  whole.  I'sed 
both  for  muzzle-loaders  and  for  tlie  earlier  breech-loaders.  Cartridges  for 
Merrit's,  Hall's,  Sharp's,  Colt's,  and  Starr's  arms  are  noted.  Twenty-nine 
specimens. 

3.  Transition  from  inflammable  wrapper  to  metallic  cartridges. 
This  includes  the  Gallagher  foil  cartridge;  the  Maynard  brass  shell  cart- 
ridge, with  a  flange  at  rear,  as  in  modern  cartridges,  but  having  no  priming 


66  War  Department  Exhibit. 


a  central  perforation  in  the  base  admitting  Hame  from  a  primer  fired  on  a 
nipple  outside  the  barrel;  the  Burnside  copper  shell  cartridge,  with  flange  at 
forward  end,  and  central  perforation  at  base;  also  some  foreign  gun  cart- 
ridges.    Thirty-seven  specimens. 

4.  Early  self-primed  cartridges,  rim-primed  and  center-primed  cart- 

ridges. 
Pouliiey  brass-foil,  with  iron  base ;  Crispin  zinc-foil ;  Hotchkiss  solid  head, 
pressed  up  from  solid  base;  Remington-Martin  base;  Winchester  (Milbank 
primer).  The  primer  is  a  flanged  percussion  cap  inserted  in  a  pocket  without 
anvil;  United  States  Cartridge  Company  solid  head,  both  inside  and  outside 
primed  cartridges ;  Berdan,  early  forms  with  outside  pocket,  and  impressed 
shallow  cup  :•  Mead's  explosive  bullet  cartridge ;  Spencer ;  Ballard ;  Morse ; 
Henry;  various  experimental  cartridges,  including  Col.  Laidley's;  and  sev- 
eral pistol  cartridges  by  various  makers,  including  inside  and  outside  cap, 
teat  and  rim-primed  cartridges. 

5.  Foreign  and  sporting  cartridges,  metallic,  etc. 

English  Boxer,  Snyder ;  English  Boxer,  Henry ;  French  chassepot  and 
mitrailleuse,  pasteboard,  with  metal  base;  Prussian  needle  gun,  paper  cylin- 
der, choked  in  front  of  bullet;  Austrian  "  Werndl,"  with  annular  copper  an- 
vil ;  Dutch  Beaumont,  with  solid  brass  head  and  pocket,  cap  with  anvil  prim- 
er; Swiss  Vetterlin,  rim-primed;  and  various  sporting  cartridges  for  shot, 
nearly  all  pasteboard  with  metal  base,  pocket  and  anvil  primed. 

6    Modifications  made  in  the  charge."    (Cal.  .50  cartridges.) 

Charges  of  Oriental,  Hazard,  and  Du  Pont  musket  powders,  70  grains. 
These  show  the  various  effects  of  compressing  the  charge,  either  from  front, 
rear,  or  from  both  ends,  and  either  perforating  it  from  end  to  end,  or  leaving 
a  conical  rear  cavity;  Sleeper's  chlorate  powder  is  also  shown  in  charges  of 
from  15  to  30  grains,  as  is  also  Gomez's  iron  gun-powder. 

7.  Modifications  in  bullet  and  lubricant. 

These  show  the  various  effects  of  deepening  the  cannelures  to  hold  more 
lubricant;  use  of  two  broad  cannelures  instead  of  three;  use  of  lubricant 
with  wad  under  the  bullet,  either  alone  or  in  addition  to  lubricant  in  the  can- 
nelures ;  use  of  a  front  lubricant ;  patching  bullet  with  bank-note  paper ;  and 
use  of  bullet  hardened  by  the  addition  of  tin. 

Various  forms  of  bullets  are  also  shown,  the  usual  one  being  the  frustum 
of  a  cone  on  a  cylinder;  various  reductions  in  weight  are  also  made,  usually 
by  conical  cavity  in  base. 

8.  Center  primed  cartridges,  disk  and  bar  anvils. 

These  show  the  center  swell  base,  copper  disk  anvil,  two  vents,  short  case ; 
Martin  straight  bar  reinforce,  tinned  iron,  with  reinforce  copper  cup  held  in 
by  indents  in  wall  of  shell;  various  disk  and  bar  anvils  of  copper  or  iron, 
held  in  by  indents  or  re-entrant  fold ;  and  the  Martin  pocket  with  re-en- 
trant fold. 

Ca])-primed  cases  are  included.     These  show  the  solid  nipple-head  in 


War  Departtnent  Exhibit.  67 


brass  pocket  in  base  of  case ;  various  star  and  cup  cap-receivers ;  front  igni- 
tion cases;  the  Laidley  arch  anvil;  Treadwell  cube  anvil;  Berdan  anvil;  and 
cup  anvils.  One  of  the  earliest  was  the  Benet,  1866.  One  of  Berdan's  early 
models  was  made  on  the  same  principle. 

They  also  comprise  the  tinned  cup  anvil,  held  in  by  crimps  or  indents ; 
side  vent  cup  anvil;  corrugated  base,  copper  cup  anvil ;  copper  cup  anvils 
of  various  shapes  ;  Treadwell's  open  base,  with  double  cup ;  Berdan  solid  head 
teat  anvil,  and  various  cup  anvil  ammunition  for  pistols. 

9.  Modifications  in  calibre.     Reductions. 

Nearly  all  the  first  bullets  of  .45  calibre  are  in  bottle-shaped  cases,  either 
for  70  or  80  grains  charge,  weighing  from  400  to  425  grains ;  they  are  nearly 
all  cannelured,  with  cases  about  2.5  inches  long.  The  bullets  for  the  .42  cal. 
are  used  with  from  70  to  80  grains  of  powder,  and  weigh  from  350  to  385  grains. 
The  early  forms  all  appear  in  bottle-shaped  cases,  and  are  nearly  all  cannel- 
ured. The  .40  cal.,  nearly  all  in  straight  cases,  are  used  with  from  65  to  80 
grains  of  powder,  and  weigh  from  290  to  350  grains.  They  nearly  all  have 
four  or  five  cannelures. 

10.  Folded  head,    centre-primed  cartridges;    calibre,  .75;    non-re- 

loading, showing  stages  of  manufacture. 

The  shell  is  slightly  tapering  from  flange  to  bullet,  where  it  becomes  cyl- 
indrical and  extends  to  cover  the  cannelures.  It  is  made  from  a  thin  plate 
of  copper.  First  a  disk  is  punched  out  and  slightly  cupped  in  a  single  ma- 
chine. The  cup  is  then  drawn  out  more  and  more,  becoming  of  smaller  and 
smaller  diameter  by  successive  operations.  It  is  then  trimmed  to  length,  and 
the  head  is  formed  by  a  press  which  buckles  out  the  metal  at  the  sides  of  the 
closed  end,  forming  a  folded  flange.  A  perforated  cup  anvil  with  a  shallow 
pocket  in  the  bottom  is  inserted  and  pushed  down,  being  fixed  in  place  by 
crimps  made  just  in  front  of  it  at  two  oppo-site  points  in  the  wall  of  the  shell. 
The  bullet  weighs  404  grains ;  charge  of  powder  for  carbine,  55  grains ;  for 
rifle,  70  grains,  the  same  shell  being  used  for  both,  with  wads  behind  bullet  in 
the  former  to  fill  the  space  and  give  the  cartridge  the  same  size.  The  bullet  is 
made  from  round  cast  bars  of  lead  and  tin  ;  16  parts  lead  to  1  of  tin.  These 
are  rolled  down  to  size,  and  then  a  single  machine  cuts  to  lengths  and  forms 
a  bullet  from  each  length  between  three  dies,  one  die  for  the  base  and  two  for 
the  sides.     There  are  three  shallow  cannelures  for  lubricant. 

Samples  are  given  of  carbine,  rifle  and  revolver  shells  and  bullets,  show- 
ing stages  of  manufacture. 

11.  U.  S.  service  cartridge;   calibre,  .45. 

This  differs  from  those  just  described^  in  being  made  with  a  solid  flange 
at  the  head,  and  arranged  for  the  insertion  of  a  primer  from  the  outside,  so 
that  the  shell  can  be  reprimed  and  reloaded.  It  has  usually  been  made  of 
copper,  but  it  is  now  made  of  brass.  It  is  made  from  thicker  metal  than  the 
folded  head  cartridge.  The  sheet  from  which  the  disks  are  punched  is  shown, 
with  the  various  stages  in  development  of  the  tube,  primer  and  bullet.  (See 
Figure  26.)    Weight  of  bullet,  500  grains ;  weight  of  powder,  70  grains. 


68 


War  Department  Exhibit. 


12.   T7ie  Morse  S/iell  of  service  size. 

This  has  a  movable  base,  with  rubber  packing.  It  is  a  folded  head  brass 
shell,  with  the  centre  of  the  base  cut  out  for  the  insertion  of  a  solid  cup  con- 
taining an  outside  primer.  (See  Figure  27.)  A  rubber  ring  inside  covers  the 
joint.  With  the  solid  head  cartridge,  expansion  of  the  front  part  caused  it  to 
clamp  against  the  wall  of  the  chamber,  the  pressure  on  the  base  tending  to 
pull  it  away  from  the  front  part  so  held.  This  caused  breaking,  particularly 
with  copper  shells.  The  Morse  shell  was  designed  to  obviate  this  trouble,  and 
it  is  now  undergoing  trial  to  see  whether  the  complication  of  parts  and  form 


A 


tlj 


Fig.  26. 


Fig.  27 


Fig.  28.  Fig    29. 

of  shell  introduce  other  objections  greater  than  the  above,  in  reloading  shells. 
Shells  are  reloaded  by  the  soldier,  and  it  is  very  important  to  have  them  last 
for  many  reloadings. 


NEW    SM.\LL    CALIBRE    CARTRIDGES. 

The  tendency  to  reduction  of  calibre  has  been  constant  from  the  old 
musket  calibre,  70-lOOths  of  an  inch,  to  the  prevailing  calibres  of  recent  years. 
.45  (the  U.  S.  calibre)  to  .40. 

To  Professor  Hebler,  of  Germany,  and  Major  Eubin,  of  Switzerland,  is 


War  Department  Exhibit.  69 


due  the  credit  of  experiments  within  the  last  ten  years  which  have  led  to 
recent  reduction  of  caUbres  in  Europe.  The  limit  of  advantage  in  reduction 
seems  to  be  about  .295  inches,  and  a  calibre  of  about  .31  is  regarded  as  the 
best.  The  object  of  reduction,  besides  the  saving  in  weight  of  cartridges  and 
of  space  occupied  by  them  in  packing,  and  the  diminution  of  recoil,  lies  in 
the  flatter  trajectory  obtained  with  a  bullet  of  diameter  so  slight  as  compared 
with  its  length.  Such  a  bullet  in  moving  point  on  suffers  less  resistance  from 
the  air  in  projiortion  to  the  weight,  since  the  weight  of  projectile  compared 
with  resisting  surface  is  greater.  The  retardation  of  the  bullet  is  therefore 
less.  Moreover,  the  area  of  the  longitudinal  section  is  greater  in  relation  to 
the  weight,  and  this  increases  the  effect  of  the  air  in  retarding  the  drop  of  the 
bullet.  The  result  is  that  the  velocity  given  it  in  the  gun  is  maintained  longer 
and  the  drop  is  less  over  a  given  range,  as  well  as  in  a  given  time,  making  the 
path  of  the  bullet  straighter  and  increasing  the  "dangerous  space,"  or  the 
distance  over  which,  for  aim  at  any  particular  range,  the  bullet  would  keep 
within  a  man's  height  from  the  ground.  This  effect  is  augmented  by  greatly 
increasing  the  charge  in  comparison  with  the  w'eight  of  the  bullet,  or 
by  using  a  higher  explosive,  and  so  getting  greater  initial  velocity;  1800  to 
2000  feet  per  second,  instead  of  1300  to  1400  feet.  To  keep  a  long,  thin  bullet 
point  on  in  its  flight  requires  an  increased  rate  of  rotation,  and  the  twist  of 
the  rifling  is  increased  to  1  turn  in  9  or  10  inches,  while  the  twist  in  our  ser- 
vice rifle  is  1  turn  in  30  inches.  Lead  bullets,  unprotected,  will  not  stand  this 
under  high  charges  without  stripping,  so  the  lead  bullet  is  sheathed  with 
copper  or  steel,  and  this  covering  assists  too  in  penetration.  A  copper  cov- 
ered bullet  recovered  from  wood  into  which  it  had  been  fired  is  shown.  It 
bears  the  marks  of  the  rifling,  but  shows  no  deformation.  The  Ilcbler  and 
Rubin  cartridges  differ  in  details  as  follows : 

13.  The  Hebler  cartridge. 

In  one  form  of  this  cartridge  the  case  is  of  steel,  nickel-plated,  with  a 
copper  head  which  contains  the  center-fire  capsule  and  expands  to  serve  as 
a  gas  check.  The  charge  of  powder,  83  grains,  is  compressed  in  the  case,  and 
has  a  central  canal  for  the  rapid  ignition  of  the  whole  charge.  It  is  arranged 
in  layers  of  different  densities,  to  give  greater  uniformity  of  pressure  by  in- 
creasing the  rate  of  burning  toward  the  end.  The  form  shown  in  the  exhibit, 
from  the  National  Armory,  represented  actual  size  in  figure  28,  has  a 
brass,  solid-head,  bottle-shape  shell,  with  the  usual  flange. 

The  Lorenz  bullet,  used  with  these  cartridges,  is  covered  with  a  thin  steel 
jacket,  nickel-plated.  This  jacket  is  drawn  and  pressed  into  shape,  tinned 
inside,  and  filled  with  compressed  pieces  of  soft  lead  slightly  hardened  by  tin 
and  antimony.  The  whole  is  then  heated  to  melt  the  lead  and  cause  it  to 
unite  with  the  wall  of  the  cover,  and  the  lead  is  afterwards  compressed  and 
solidified.  The  steel  jacket  is  tenipereil  at  the  point,  but  it  is  softer  at  the 
sides.     Six  thousand  rounds  have  ])een  fired  from  a  rifle  without  i)erceptible 


70  War  Department  Exhibit. 

wear  or  injury  to  the  grooves,  the  bullet  taking  the  grooves  perfectly.  The 
liullet  has  no  cannelures. 

The  following  figures  regarding  the  Hehlcr  bullet,  calibre,  .2!Jo,  are  taken 
from  various  sources:  Initial  velocity,  1850  feet;  weight  of  bullet,  224  grains; 
weight  of  charge,  83  grains  ;  weight  of  cartridge  complete,  521  grains;  length 
of  bullet,  4.4G  calibres. 

Penetration  of  Hebler  at  muzzle,  39.4  inches  in  pine;  at  distance  of  2,500 
metres,  2%  inches.  Of  Mauser,  at  muzzle,  9.5  inches;  at  1,600  metres,  2.16 
inches. 

The  LeheJ  rifie  rartridfir,  of  the  Hebler  pattern,  is  said  to  be  as  follows : 
Length  of  bullet,  1.32  inches;  total  length  of  case,  3.07  inches;  calibre,  .304; 
weight,  211.42  grains.     Front  lubricant  is  supposed  to  be  used. 

This  cartridge  has  a  smokeless  powder,  but  its  composition  it  not  defi- 
nitely known,  and  there  is  some  doubt  about  its  standing  .storage  and  answer- 
ing the  requirements  of  service. 

It  is  said  that  experiments  on  animals  demonstrate  that  the  wound 
caused  by  a  Hebler  bullet  is  much  less  serious  than  that  from  others,  as  the 
Hebler  bullet  makes  a  clean  hole,  while  the  others  make  ragged  and  splint- 
ered holes,  producing  wounds  that  remain  serious  for  years  even  if  vital 
parts  are  not  struck.  In  one  case,  a  man  shot  by  a  Hebler  bullet  in  the  upper 
left  arm  entirely  recovered  in  three  months,  though  he  was  hors  de  combat  for 
two  months.  It  is  held  to  be  better  to  wound  than  to  kill.  A  dead  man 
requires  burial  only ;  a  wounded  man  needs  the  assistance  of  two  others,  is 
an  additional  expense  to  the  State,  and  can  render  no  service  for  a  long  time. 

14.  The  Rubin  cartridge;  lead  bullet,   copper  covered. 

Two  specimens  are  shown,  of  form  indicated  in  Figure  29;  one  from  the 
National  Armorj',  and  one  presented  by  Herr  Schulhoff  and  Major  Glent- 
worth,  of  the  Austrian  service.  This  is  used  in  the  Schulhoff  magazine  gun, 
shown  in  the  exhibit,  as  well  as  in  the  Rubin  rifle,  of  which  a  trial  is  now  being 
made  at  the  National  Armory.  This  shell  is  of  a  novel  pattern.  It  is  made 
without  a  projecting  flange,  a  groove  for  the  extractor  to  engage  in  being  cut 
round  the  base,  which  is  made  thicker  to  give  room  for  it.  The  walls  of  the 
.shell  are  thick,  and  at  the  mouth  this  is  increased  by  an  inner  ring,  forming 
a  shoulder  round  the  bullet,  and  this,  with  the  taper  of  the  shell,  prevents 
forcing  the  cartridge  too  far  into  the  firing  chamber.  One  advantage  of  this 
form  of  shell  in  box  magazines  is  obvious,  as  no  care  has  to  be  taken  to  keep 
the  flanges  of  the  cartridges  from  catching  on  each  other  to  prevent  pushing 
the  top  one  forward  in  loading  the  piece.  The  Schulhoff  gun  is  also  made  to 
fire  the  Hebler  flanged  cartridge. 

The  following  information  regarding  the  Rubin  cartridge,  of  form  shown 
in  Figure  29,  is  derived  from  experiments  in  this  country  with  the  Rubin  rifle: 
Calibre,  .29.5  inches.  The  charge  is  ordinary  grain  powder,  compressed,  with 
an  axial  perforation.  Weight  of  powder,  69.48  graijis;  weight  of  projectile, 
216.16  grains;  velocity,  50  feet  from  muzzle,  1800  feet  per  second;  maximum 
penetration  in  soft  pine,  17  inches  at  500  yards ;  9.78  inches  at  1000  yards ;  ordi- 
nates  in  firing  at  500  yard  target,  100  yards,  2.97  feet ;  200  yards,  4.8 ;  300  yards, 
5.19 ;  400  yards,  3.73 ;  maximum  ordinate  firing  at  1000  yard  target,  34.226. 

15.  The  Hurst  accelerating  cartridge ;  calibre,  .32. 

A  cartridge  invented  by  H.  P.  Hurst,  of  Mississippi,  has  recentl}'^  at- 


War  Department  Exhibit.  71 


tracted  considerable  attention.  (It  is  shown  only  by  drawings  and  descrip- 
tion.) Remarkable  results  are  to  be  expected  from  such  a  cartridge,  with  the 
weight  of  charge  nearly  double  that  of  the  projectile. 

The  base  of  the  cartridge  shell  has  attached  to  it  a  strong  central  tube, 
which  contains  the  initial  charge  of  powder,  and  extends  beyond  it  over 
nearly  all  of  the  cylindrical  portion  of  the  bullet.  Outside  of  this  case  is  dis- 
posed a  second  charge,  composed  of  rings  of  compressed  powder  consideralily 
less  in  diameter  than  the  chamber  of  the  gun.  The  bullets  are  m.-de  of  steel, 
and  are  of  various  lengths.  The  firing  of  the  central  charge  is  eflected  in  the 
usual  manner,  and  the  bullet  is  driven  fioni  the  tube,  but  the  very  instant  it 
is  clear,  the  flame  is  communicated  to  the  second  charge,  and  the  projectile 
leaves  tTie  bore  with  a  greatly  accelerated  velocity. 

A  collection  of  cartridge  primers  and  parts  of  primer  is  shown,  embracing 
different  varieties— Berdan,  Orcutt,  Sharp,  Wesson,  etc. 


SIGHTS,  APPENDAGES,  ETC. 


1.  Lorain  telescope  sight  for  heavy  guns. 

Tliis  is  practically  a  surveyor's"  field  transit  instrument,  with  vertical 
and  horizontal  limbs;  the  vertical  for  adjusting  the  angle  of  elevation,  and 
the  horizontal  limb  to  give  allowance  for  wind  and  drift.  This  sight  is 
intended  to  be  placed  on  the  left  trunnion,  with  the  horizontal  limb  parallel 
to  the  plane  passing  through  the  axis  of  the  trunnion  and  the  axis  of  the 
piece,  no  allowance  being  made  for  inclination  of  the  platform.  When  the 
horizontal  limb  is  set  at  the  zero  mark,  the  vertical  limb  is  parallel  to  the 
vertical  plane  of  fire,  and  this  adjustment  being  made,  setting  the  vertical 
limb  at  the  zero  of  its  scale  should  bring  the  line  of  collimation  of  the  tele- 
scope parallel  to  the  axis  of  the  piece.  It  is  only  wlien  tiring  at  a  target  on 
a  level  with  the  gun  that  the  elevation  reading  for  any  range  will  be  the  same 
as  that  required  with  the  quadrant,  as  the  reading  gives  the  angle  made  with 
the  axis  of  the  piece  and  not  with  the  horizontal.  The  vertical  reading  for 
the  telescope  sight  will  be  greater  than  with  the  quadrant  when  the  liring 
point  is  above  the  target,  and  less  when  the  firing  point  is  below. 

From  Fort  Monroe.     Designed  by  the  late  Maj.  Lorain,  I'.  S.  Army. 

2.  Zalinski  telescope  sight  for  sea  coast  guns. 

This  sight  has  an  adjustment  for  want  of  level  of  the  platform.  The 
frame  carrying  the  telescope  and  its  vertical  and  horizontal  liml)s  has  on 
the  right  side  a  round  trunnion-bar,  wliicb  rests  in  bearings  on  the  face  of 
the  left  trunnion,  the  axis  of  this  bar  being  parallel  to  the  axis  of  the  piece. 
A  thumb-screw  lower  down  on  the  frame  bears  against  the  face  of  the  trun- 
nion to  level  the  sight  horizonlally.     Fixed  to  the  frame  liy  a  hurizonlal  axis. 


72  War  Departvient  Exhibit. 

opposite  the  front  end  of  the  axis  of  the  trunnion-bar,  is  a  plate  which  holds 
the  vertical  limb,  and  attaciied  to  this  at  the  front  by  a  vertical  pivot  is  a 
plate  wliich  revolves  horizontally,  and  carries  the  telescope  on  Y's,  the  op- 
tical center  of  the  object  glass  being  over  the  vertical  pivot.  "Verniers  allow 
setting  the  limbs  to  minutes  of  arc.  Levels  for  adjustment  arc  placed,  one 
longitudinally  under  the  telescope,  and  one  laterally  on  the  frame  which  di- 
rectly su])ports  the  telescope.  The  bar  is  hollow  to  serve  as  an  ordinary  peep 
sight.  Fixed  and  movable  cross-hairs,  the  latter  moved  by  a  micrometer 
screw,  serve  to  give  a  range  finder  by  measuring  the  angular  depression  of 
the  mark  below  the  gun,  or  its  elevation^  above,  the  distance  being  a  func- 
tion of  this  angle  and  the  known  height  of  the  gun  above  the  water  level. 

From  Fort  Monroe.     Designed  by  Capt.  E.  L.  Zalinski,  5th  Artillery. 

3.  Two  double-reflecting  sights  for  heav}-  guns. 

The  reiiectors  are  fastened  to  the  top  of  a  graduated  stem,  which  passes 
up  and  down  through  a  socket  attached  to  the  breech.  A  lateral  move- 
ment of  the  rear  sight  in  front  of  the  reflector  gives  allowance  for  wind,  etc. 
The  gunner  stands  behind  the  piece,  sheltered  by  the  parapet. 

4.  rhipps-Quinan  sight  for  field  guns. 

This  is  a  tangent  sight  with  its  stem  made  to  slide  laterally  on  a  hollow 
block,  which  turns  round  an  axis  parallel  to  the  axis  of  the  piece.  The  block 
rests  in  the  curved  top  of  a  standard,  which  is  set  in  a  socket  fastened  to  the 
rear  of  the  piece.  A  level  on  the  block  serves  to  set  the  stem  in  a  vertical 
plane  passing  through  the  top  of  the  front  sight,  this  point  being  so 
placed  that  the  line  joining  it  with  the  axis  of  rotation  of  the  block  is  parallel 
to  the  axis  of  the  piece.  This  makes  it  practicable  to  sight  correctly 
whether  the  wheels  are  on  the  same  level  or  not,  and  in  this  particular  it 
serves  the  same  purpose  as  the  old  pendulum  hatissc,  kept  vertical  by  gravity. 
It  is  more  stable  in  position  than  the  latter,  however,  and  it  admits  adjust- 
ment for  wind  and  drift  by  the  lateral  movement.  The  sight-slide  is  moved 
up  and  down  by  a  screw  running  the  length  of  rlie  si  cm. 

From  West  Point. 

5.  Kelton's  rear  sight  for  rifles. 

This  has  a  rear  skeleton  leaf,  the  inclination  of  which  is  regulated  by  a 
shaft  turned  by  a  milled  head  at  the  right.  A  slide  on  the  leaf  carries  a  wind 
gauge.  The  object  of  the  arrangement  is  to  give  the  means  of  getting  the 
sight  quickly  for  any  elevation. 

6.  Sight  of  Lebel  rifle. 

This  sight  has  an  inclined  hinged  leaf,  with  slide,  and  it  seems  to  be  sim- 
ilar to  the  old  pattern  sight  of  the  U.  S.  service.  The  base  is  provided  with 
live  steps,  against  which  leans  the  leaf,  supported  by  the  slide,  for  distances 
of  from  400  to  800  metres.  The  leaf  carries  graduations  of  from  900  to  1,900 
metres,  and  has  on  its  top  the  notch  for  2,000  metres,  the  highest  contem- 
plated range.  When  the  leaf  is  lowered,  a  short  sight  projecting  from  its 
face  near  the  hinge  is  available  for  ranges  up  to  350  metres. 


War  Departjuent  Exhibit. 


73 


7    Sight  for  Mauser  rifle. 

The  rear  sight  consists  of  two  siglit  leaves  hinged  to  the  sight  mass  by 
a  movable  pin.  The  small  leaf  is  just  in  rear  of  the  long  one.  The  latter  is 
kept  steady  when  vertical  by  a  flat  spring  below.  It  is  a  skeleton  leaf  hav- 
ing side  bars  which  are  graduated  up  to  1,600  meters.  A  plate  enveloping  the 
long  leaf  slides  up  and  down,  its  lower  edge  being  brought  to  the  required 
graduation  on  the  leaf,  and  held  there  by  a  spring.  The  plate  has  a  notch 
at  the  top  for  long-range  sighting,  and  two  sighting  holes  lower  down.  Be- 
sides the  two  leaves,  there  is  a  short  standing  sight,  which  is  used  for 
distances  less  than  270  metres  when  the  two  leaves  are  turned  down.  The 
small  leaf  serves  for  350  metres ;  the  long  one  for  distances  from  400  up  to 
1,600  metres.  The  sights  are  kept  dark  dull  to  avoid  any  errors  in  the  aim 
by  deceptive  light.     There  is  no  adjustment  for  wind  and  drift. 

8    Buffington  sight  for  service  vSpringfield  rifle  and  carbine 

This  sight  is  shown  in  figure  30.  It  resembles  the  Mauser,  in  having  a 
long  hinged  s^elecon  leaf,  held  in  an  upright  position  by  a  spring  below,  and 
in  having  a  slide  plate  ]ierforatc<l  with   sighting  holes,  but  the  slide  moves 


Fig.  30. 

within  the  leaf  insteud  of  enveloping  it,  and  a  clamp  screw  at  the  top  of  tiie 
leaf  holds  the  slide  from  jumping  up  in  firing.  Besides  provision  for  upper 
and  lower  open  sights,  upper  and  lower  peep-sight  holes  are  made  in  the 
plate.  When  the  leaf  is  down,  a  snudl  sight  projecting  from  its  face  serves 
for  short  range.     The  following  important  additions  are  made : 

CompeHsntiun  for  drift.  The  guides  in  which  the  slide  moves  are  inclined 
to  the  left,  so  that  the  sight  holes  move  to  the  left  slightly  in  g<jing  up,  giving 
an  automatic  allowance  for  drift,  and  leaving  only  the  wind  to  be  considered 
bv  the  soldier.  This  is  the  first  application  of  this  principle  to  sights  for 
small  arms,  though  it  is  used  on  some  of  the  Navy  sights  for  heavy  guns. 


74  War  Department  Exhibit. 

Wind  gauge.  The  leaf  is  hinged  to  a  swinging  plate  pivoted  to  the  sight 
mass  or  base,  as  indicated  in  the  figure,  and  a  worm  turned  by  a  milled  head 
on  the  right  side  of  the  base  at  the  front  engages  in  the  front  curved  edge  of 
the  plate  to  turn  it,  thereby  moving  the  sight  to  the  right  or  left  to  allow 
for  wind. 

9.  IJelgian  aiming  device  for  teaching  recruits. 

This  is  shown  in  rear  of  the  Bufiington  sight  in  figure  30.  It  consists  of 
an  upright  l)ar,  which  is  fastened  to  the  side  of  the  gun  by  a  cvirved  spring 
clamp  covered  with  leather,  and  it  can  be  easily  slipped  on  and  ofi"  the  gun. 
The  bar  has  a  sliding  frame,  which  moves  \i\i  and  down,  carrying  a  piece  of 
smokj'  glass,  held  in  a  vertical  position,  but  inclined  to  the  axis  of  the  gun 
so  that  a  person  standing  at  the  side  can  see  in  it  the  reflection  of  the  front 
and  rear  sights.  This  glass,  however,  allows  the  soldier  to  look  through  froai 
the  rear  in  aiming,  so  that. both  the  recruit  and  his  instructor  can  sight  at 
the  same  time,  and  the  latter  can  correct  the  errors  made  by  the  former.  It 
is  a  great  im])rovement  over  the  old  method  of  using  a  sand  bag  to  steady  the 
piece  and  having  first  the  recruit  and  then  the  instructor  look  along  the 
sights,  as  it  is  very  difficult  to  keep  the  gun  steady  in  place  on  the  sand  bag. 
Lt.  Col.  Andrew  Burt,  of  the  7th  Infantry,  suggests  the  use  of  a  cross  level 
in  connection  with  this  device,  to  insure  keeping  the  sight  leaf  vertical.  The 
inclination  of  the  sides  of  the  sight  slide  renders  this  somewhat  difficult  in 
sighting  at  long  ranges  with  the  slide  well  up.  The  Mauser  enveloping  slide, 
with  leaf  instead  of  slide  inclined,  would  remain  vertical  and  allow  putting 
the  clamp  screw  at  the  bottom  of  the  slide  to  serve  as  a  handle,  instead  of  at 
the  top  of  the  leaf  where  it  requires  both  hands  to  set  the  sight. 

From  Ordnance  Office. 

10.  Buffington  headless  shell  extractor  and  gun  cleaner. 


Fig.  31. 
This  device,  lately  adopted  in  the  U.  S.  service  for  removing  from  the 
bore  and  chamber  empty  shells  with  heads  pulled  off,  is  shown  in  figure  31. 
It  consists  of  two  parts,  the  extractor  proper  shown  in  the  middle  of  the 
figure,  and  a  small  drift  shown  at  the  right.  The  extractor  proper  is  a  hollow 
cylinder  of  tempered  steel,  rifled  on  the  exterior  to  correspond  with  the  rifling 
of  the  barrel.  Four  transverse  grooves  are  cut  in  the  projecting  ridges.  One 
end  is  divided  by  three  longitudinal  slits  which  can  be  expanded  slightly  by 
forcing  in  the  drift.  At  the  end  of  the  prongs  a  screw  thread  is  cut.  The 
other  end  is  tapped  to  hold  the  drift  when  its  use  is  not  required.  A  section 
of  the  prong  end  is  shown  at  the  left  of  tlie  figure.  To  drive  out  a  shell  stuck 
in  the  rifled  part  of  the  bore  the  extractor  is  pushed  into  the  nmzzle,  drift  end 
first,  and  through  the  bore.  If  the  shell  is  in  the  chamber,  the  drift  has  to  be 
used.  It  is  unscrewed  and  the  extractor  is  inserted  at  the  breech,  prong  end 
first.     The  breech  is  then  closed  and  the  drift  is  pushed  down,  small  end  first. 


War  Department  Exhibit. 


75 


from  the  muzzle,  and  driven  in  between  the  prongs.  This  sets  the  prongs 
out,  and  the  screw  threads  at  the  end  bite  into  the  shell.  Opening  the  breech, 
the  extractor  and  shell  can  bo  driven  out  to  the  rear  togctlier.  The  extractor 
passed  through  the  bore  serves  to  clean  it. 

II.   Russell  inspecting  glass  for  Springfield  rifles  and  carbines. 

Figure  32  is  a  perspective  view,  from  the  front  and  above.  Figure  3.S  a 
longitudinal  section  tbrougli  the  receiver  and  through  the  instrument  wlicn 
in  position,  with  a  side  view  of  brecch-lilock. 


Fig.  32. 

A  brass  frame,  shaped  to  fitin  the  receiver,  holds  an  inclined  mirror,  M,  by 
which  the  inspector,  looking  in  above,  obtains  the  reflected  image  of  the  bore 
and  chamber  from  the  lear.  For  inspection  from  the  muzzle,  it  serves  to 
throw  light  in  at  the  breech  to  illumine  tlie  bore.  A  bar  in  front,  across  the 
top  of  the  frame,  holds  the  breech-block  open. 


Fig.  33. 

12.   Devices  for  sighting  through  thick  walls. 

These  give  a  wide  field  of  view  witb  very  small  apertures  in  the  front  and 
rear  faces  of  the  wall. 


76  War  Department  Exhibit, 


RANGE  FINDERS. 


These  are  instruments  for  quickly  determining  tlie  distance  of  a  target  in 
order  to  set  the  sights  of  the  guns  for  the  proper  range.  With  the  exception 
of  the  Gordon,  all  that  are  shown  in  the  exhibit  are  pocket  instruments. 
They  all  depend  on  the  principles  of  double  reflection.  If  two  plane  mirrors 
are  inclined  to  each  other,  as  in  figure  84,  at  any  angle,  a  ray  of  light  reflected 
from  one  surface  after  the  other  will  change  direction  hy  an  angle  equal  to 
twice  the  angle  made  by  the  mirrors,  and  turning  both  mirrors  together  does 
not  change  this  angle.  If  a  triangular  prism  is  used,  as  represented  in  figure 
35 ;  suppose  the  ray  enters  one  of  the  sliort  faces  where  it  is  bent  by  refraction. 


Fig.  34.  Fig.  35. 

and  that  it  passes  to  the  silvered  back,  wlicre  it  is  reflected  to  the  first  .surface 
again  with  greater  inclination  than  before,  and  reflected  again  from  that  sur- 
face, passing  out  at  the  third  surface.  If  the  front  angle  of  the  prism  is  equal 
to  twice  the  angle  made  by  the  reflecting  surfaces,  the  deflection  will  also  be 
('(|ual  to  twice  the  latter  angle  as  with  plane  mirrors,  the  bending  of  the  ray 
at  the  surfaces  of  entrance  and  emergence  being  the  same  and  in  opposite 
directions.  The  reflecting  angle  used  for  both  mirrors  and  prisms  is  generally 
about  45  deg.,  to  give  a  deflection  of  about  90  deg.  For  such  angles  it  is  un- 
necessary to  silver  the  first  face  to  produce  reflection,  as  the  ray  coming  from 
the  l)ack  surface  strikes  it  at  an  angle  which  gives  tdtal  reflection  without 
silvering. 

The  prism  will  give  only  duo  angle,  but  wiien  (ince  constructed  it  is  in- 
variable. The  angles  between  the  mirrors  can  be  varied  at  will,  and  both 
fixed  and  variable  angle  instruments  are  made  with  mirrors,  but  they  reijuire 
frequent  adjustment.  The  dotted  lines  in  figures  34  and  35  indicate  the 
course  of  a  ray,  and  an  observer  at  one  end  can  see  by  reflection  a  side  object 
apparently  in  the  direction  of  the  line  he  is  sighting  on.  This  enables  him  to 
lay  iitrthc  given  angle,  by  glaiuMng  over  the  top  edge  of  the  iiistruinent  at  tbr 


IVar  Department  Exhibit, 


77 


same  time  that  he  is  looking  tliroiigli ;  and  so  to  establish  a  marker  at  such  a 
position  with  reference  to  any  object,  that  tlie  difference  of  direction  of  the 
two  points  from  the  obsei'ver  will  be  e(iual  to  the  given  angle.  lie  can  also, 
by  moving  al)out,  place  himself  in  such  a  position  as  to  make  the  bearings  of 
two  objects  from  his  position  differ  by  this  angle. 

FIXED    ANGLE    INSTRUMENTS. 

I.   The  Weldon  range  finder. 

This  is  a  prism  instrument  giving  an  angle  of  SS'  S4'  3".  It  is  adopted  in 
tlie  English  service  under  the  ul)ove  name,  l)ut  it  is  really  a  German  device, 
described,   if  not  invented,  l>y  Bauernfeind.     Figure  3(!  shows  the  Weldon 


Fig.  36.  Fig.  37. 

mountmg,  a  brass  frame  covering  the  back  and  the  upper  and  lower  surfaces. 
A  handle  is  placed  below.  Figure  .37  shows  the  form  of  mounting  devised  in 
the  U.  S.  Army.  The  top  of  the  glass  is  left  uncovered,  so  that  the  object 
seen  over  the  instrument  may  come  in  close  contact  vertically  with  the  image 
seen  in  the  prism.  Wings  are  placed  on  the  frame  to  cut  of!'  unnecessary  and 
confusing  reflections  from  the  outer  surfaces,  and  to  indicate  the  direction  in 
wliich  the  observer  should  look  into  the  prism. 

Weldon  also  used  two  plane  mirrors,  fixed  at  an  inclinatinn  wliich  woidd 
give  the  same  deflection. 

Following  a  suggestion  made  inofhcial  imblications  of  the  I'.S.  Ordnance 


Fig.  .S>*. 
Department,    Weldon   combined  three  prisms,  one  giving  an  anj^lc  of  f)<V ; 
one  of  88^  51'  5";  and  the  other  of  S8^  5'   12".     This  is  shown  in   figure  .3S. 


78 


War  Department  Exhibit. 


A  ring  carries  a  circular  frame  swung  to  turn  within  it,  and  two  of  the 
prisms  are  fixed  back  to  back  in  the  frame.  A  handle  to  the  ring  holds 
the  tliird  j)rism.  This  is  the  form  now  used  in  the  English  service.  It  was 
furnished  for  e.xhibition  by  Queen  tt  Co.,  Philadeli)hia.  The  mounting  re- 
sembles that  of  Bauernfeind  for  a  single  prism.  See  Ordnance  notes  134, 
1(32  and  170. 

2.   The  Russell  range  finder. 

This  consists  of  a  single  prism  with  six  sides.  By  looking  into  this  in 
different  directions,  any  one  of  three  different  angles  can  be  obtained,  90^; 
88°  34'  3";  or  91°  25'  57",  the  supplement  of  the  second.  The  prism  is 
mounted  in  a  frame,  as  shown  in  figure  3i),  leaving  apertures  at  certain  places 
for  observation,  the  top  being  uncovered.  This  frame  is  placed  in  a  circular 
box,  open  at  the  top  and  on  one  side.     The  frame  revolves  in  the  box  round 


Fig.  ail. 

a  pin  in  the  center  of  the  bottom,  to  uncover  through  the  side  opening  two 
apertures  in  the  frame  at  the  same  time  and  allow  observation  of  either  re- 
quired angle,  but  ])revent  direct  sight  through.  A  spring  stop  underneath 
holds  the  frame  in  each  of  the  tliree  positions,  and  the  outline  given  to  the 
frame  between  the  different  faces  of  the  prism  indicates  to  the  touch  what 
angle  can  be  observed  at  the  opening.  This  one  prism  performs  the  office  of 
the  three  Weldon  prisms  combined. 

3.  The  Pratt  range  finder. 

The  Pratt  range  finder  consists  of  a  frame  holding  two  small  mirrors 
above  and  two  below ;  the  upper  mirrors  making  an  angle  of  45°  with  each 
other,  and  the  lower  an  angle  of  43°  34'  7.5",  for  laying  off  an  angle  of  87° 
8'  15".  This  range  finder  comes  in  a  neat  case,  and  has  a  small  handle  below 
for  convenience  of  use.  Figure  40  represents  this  instrument.  Sections  of 
the  upper  and  lower  mirrors  are  shown  above  and  below,  and  in  the  middle 
is  a  perspective  view.  This  was  invented  by  Lt.  Sedgwick  Pratt,  3d  Artillery, 
who  has  devised  new  and  valuable  methods  of  observation. 

Furnished  from  Fort  Monroe. 


With  instruments  giving  but  one  angle,  it  is  desiral)le  to  have  two  ob- 


f 


War  Department  Exhibit. 


79 


servers,  each  one  with  an  instrument.  One  observer  lays  otf  the  angle  from 
the  mark,  and  ranges  the  other  observer  on  his  line  of  sight.  The  second 
observer,  facmg  him,  moves  back  and  forth  on  this  line  till  he  sees  the  mark 
reflected  from  the  direction  of  the  first  oliscrver.  The  distance  between  ob- 
servers, multiplied  by  20,  gives  the  range  of  the  mark  from  either. 

With  instruments  giving  three  angles,  one  observer  is  able  to  do  the  work 
alone.  If  he  lays  off  from  the  mark,  with  the  instrument,  the  largest  angle, 
and  then  moves  back  on  his  line  of  sight  until  he  sees  the  rcllection  of  the 


yti) 


Fig.  10. 

mark  from  the  same  point  as  before,  using  either  of  the  other  angles,  the 
range  can  be  found  by  multiplying  the  distance  by  20  or  by  40,  according  to 
the  smaller  angle  used.  With  the  Pratt  range  fincler,  giving  two  angles  and 
used  in  like  manner,  the  multi]>lier  is  20.  Weldon  seems  to  use  .50  and  ;-t0  as 
multipliers. 


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War  Department  Exhibit. 


8i 


that  the  angle  may  be  varied  by  turning  the  ring  A  A  on  the  end  of  the  tube. 
The  object  is  first  observed  with  tlie  mirrors  at  an  angle  of  45  degrees,  and 
the  observer  then  moves  30  metres  back  along  tlje  line  of  sight,  and  ro- 
tates the  ring  until  the  mark  is  reflected  from  the  same  point  again.  A  grad- 
uated scale  on  the  ring  gives  the  desired  distance  at  once.  A  cord  30  metres 
long  is  used  to  fix  the  base.  A  second  instrument  is  shown,  which  has  a  tele- 
scope attached.  Botli  Lat)1)ez  iiistniinents  wt-n:  furnisljed  by  Queen  (V:  Co.. 
Philadeljjhia. 

5-  The  Gordon  range  finder. 

This  consists  of  a  horizontal  plate,  holding  two  vertical  mirrors,  and  pro- 
vided with  a  short  tube,  which  can  be  adjusted  to  the  end  of  a  field  glass. 
The  reflectors  cover  one-half  the  objective,  and  one  eye  only  is  used  in  sight- 
ing. One  of  the  mirrors  can  be  moved  about  a  vertical  axis  Ijy  means  of  a 
nut  under  the  plate.  This  turns  a  cam  operating  on  a  lever,  and  a  graduated 
disk  attached  to  the  nut  gives  the  reading.  The  rotation  of  the  plate  being 
much  greater  than  that  of  the  mirror,  the  reading  can  easily  be  taken.     Fig- 


ure 42  gives  a  perspective  view  and  figure  43  shows  the  arrangement  of  the 
cam  disk  and  levers  from  below.  The  second  mirror  is  adjustable  by  rueans 
of  the  screw  and  lever  shown  in  the  latter  figure.  This  instrument  is  the  in- 
vention of  Lieutenant  W.  B.  Gordon,  Ordnance  Department. 

From  Fort  Monroe. 


6.   New  reflecting  instrument. 

A  reflecting  instrument  with  two  plane  mirrors  is  also  shown,  in  which 
the  angular  movement  of  the  mirrors  Is  twice  the  angle  °^^««"'^^  "^^.^-^.^^ 
one-ha^  that  angle,  as  in  the  ordinary  sextant  and  other  reflecting  in- 
Etruments. 


82  JV<7f   Department  Exhibit. 


SHOOTING  GALLERY. 


This  is  in  a  slicd  outside  the  building,  near  the  ottice  of  the  Navy  Depart- 
ment. Tn  it  is  shown  a  collection  of  ballistic  apparatus  for  determining 
the  pressure  of  powder  in  the  bore  of  cannon,  and  the  velocity  and  motion 
of  projectiles.  Also,  the  methods  used  in  the  army  for  reloading  small  arm 
cartridge  shells,  with  the  different  targets  in  service.  The  early  methods  of 
obtaining  the  velocity  of  projectiles  and  determining  pressures,  were  very  la- 
borious and  far  from  accurate.  Velocity  was  determined  by  firing  a  shot 
against  a  pendulum  suspended  in  front  of  the  gun,  noting  the  swing  of  the 
pendulum  and  then  calculating  what  velocity  the  shot  must  have  liad  to  pro- 
duce this  swing.  For  obtaining  pressures  the  same  instrument  was  used 
with  such  an  arrangement  as  the  Bomford  and  Warde  gun  in  the  exhibit,  con- 
structed as  descril)ed  below ;  or  the  gun  itself  was  suspended  from  a  frame 
forming  a  pendulum.  Its  swing  on  firing  the  gun  was  noted,  and  then  the 
pressure  that  must  have  been  exerted  to  produce  this  swing  was  calculated. 
So  many  allowances  had  to  be  made  for  uncertain  influences  that  poor  re- 
sults followed. 

PRESSURE    OF    POWDER    IX    GFXS. 

1.  Bomford  and  Wade's  experimental  gun,  3  in.  cast  iron,  illustrat- 

ing early  methods  of  obtaining  powder  pressures. 

Used  by  these  officers  of  ordnance  in  1841  to  determine  the  proper  exte- 
rior form  of  cannon.  It  has  screw  holes  through  the  sides  at  regular  inter- 
vals between  the  chamber  and  the  muzzle,  with  steel  screw  plugs  to  fill  them. 
One  of  these  plugs  is  perforated,  and  it  can  be  set  in  any  hole,  tlie  other  holes 
being  filled  with  solid  plugs.  Steel  balls  of  standard  weight  were  shot  from 
this  perforated  plug  at  successive  points  along  the  line  of  the  bore,  being  pro- 
jected by  the  force  produced  in  the  gun  by  firing  it  loaded  in  the  usual  man- 
ner. The  balls  were  fired  into  a  small  ballistic  pendulum.  The  tliickness  of 
new  cannon  was  proportioned  to  the  observed  velocity  at  any  point.  These 
experiments  served  to  determine  the  form  of  the  Columbiads,  model  1842, 
which,  with  slight  changes  of  form  and  the  introduction  of  the  Rodman 
method  of  casting,  afterward  became  our  standard  patterns  of  heavy,  smooth- 
bore ordnance.  These  exi)criments  were  repeated  ui  Europe  by  Cavalli  in 
1843.  From  West  Point. 

2.  Rodman  "  cutting ''  pressure  gauge;  American. 

This  was  the  first  device  for  measuring  direct  pressure.  It  consists  of  a 
hollow,  cylindrical  block,  having  a   round    pin   or  piston  extending  nearly 


War  Department  Exhibit. 


83 


tlirough  a  hole  in  one  head,  in  which  it  fits  closely,  and  carrying  on  the  inner 
end  a  curved  or  wedge-shaped  knife,  which  rests  against  a  disk  of  copper 
within;  the  other  head  being  closed  by  a  screw-cap  supporting  the  copi)er, 
and  liaving  a  copper  ring  in  the  joint  to  keep  gas  from  entering  the  cavity. 
A  cup  of  copper  fits  in  the  hole  on  the  outer  end  of  the  piston  to  act  as  gas 
check  there.  This  instrument  is  placed  in  tlic  bottom  of  the  bore  in  rear  of 
the  cartridge,  and  in  firing  the  gun  the  gas  pressure  forces  in  the  piston  and 
presses  the  knife  into  the  copper.  The  knife  is  so  shaped  as  to  make  the  cut 
larger  the  deeper  in  it  goes,  so  that  measuring  the  length  of  cut  gives  the  rela- 
tive pressures  in  difi'ereiit  cases,  by  comparison  with  lengths  of  cut  maile  by 
static  pressure.  From  New  York  Arsenal. 

3.  Noble's  "crusher"  pressure  gauge. 

This  instrument  is  of  the  same  general  construction  as  the  Rodman,  so 
far  as  piston  and  screw-cap  are  concerned,  but  a  fiat  head  is  substituted  for 
a  knife  on  the  inner  end  of  the  piston,  and  small  cylinders  of  copper  for  the 
disk.  These  cylinders  are  compressed  ditforent  amounts  for  different  pres- 
svires,  giving  a  means  of  comparison.  A  series  of  coppers  for  pressures  from 
15,000  to  50,000  pounds  per  square  incli  is  shown. 

From  New  York  .\r.senal. 

MEASUREMENT    OF    VELOCITY. 

Instead  of  the  ballistic  pendulum  referred  to  above,  electricity  is  now 
used,  and  the  methods  are  illustrated  practically  in  the  shooting  gallery. 

4.  Targets  for  velocity  instruments. 

The  target  connections  are  the  sauie  for  the  two  instruments  used  in 
the  gallery.  The  bullet  on  leaving  the  gun  cuts  a  small  copper  wire  stretched 
across  the  muzzle,  this  wire  being  in  an  electric  circuit  connecting  with  the 
instrument.     This  is  called  the  1st  target.     At  a  distance  of  21  feet  in  front  of 


Fig.  tl. 


the  muzzle  is  placed  an  iron  plate,  here  referred  to  as  the  iM  target,  and 
on  the  back  of  this  plate,  insulated  from  it,  is  a  brass  disk,  fastened  to  which. 


84  War  Department  Exhibit. 


but  insulated  from  it  at  the  fixed  end,  is  a  spring  which  presses  at  tlie  free 
end  against  the  disk.  Dislc  and  spring  are  attached  to  the  opposite  poles  of 
another  battery,  so  that  electric  connection  is  made  at  the  point  of  contact 
of  the  spring,  for  a  second  circuit  passing  also  to  the  instrument.  When  the 
bullet  strikes  the  plate  the  spring  is  jarred  away  from  the  disk,  breaking  the 
circuit.  The  arrangement  of  the  1st  target  is  illustrated  in  figure  44.  In 
carrying  out  this  design,  similar  to  but  more  compact  than  one  put  in  use  at 
Frankford  Arsenal,  much  assistance  was  derived  from  Mr.  Luke  Lilley,  elec- 
trician of  the  E.xposition.  A  block  of  vulcanite  was  perforated  to  fit  over  the 
end  of  the  barrel,  as  shown  in  the  figune,  and  at  each  side,  projecting  for- 
ward, is  a  brass  spring,  these  springs  being  connected  with  opposite  poles  of 
the  1st  circuit.  A  thin  piece  of  vulcanite  in  shape  of  a  horse-shoe,  as  indi- 
cated in  front  of  the  springs,  has  a  fine  copper  wire  passing  from  arm  to  arm, 
and  wound  round  each  arm  in  sockets  which  fit  the  springs,  so  that  when  this 
movable  piece  is  pushed  up  close  to  the  block,  and  held  by  the  springs,  the 
wire  lies  across  the  muzzle,  and  coming  in  contact  with  the  springs  completes 
the  electrical  circuit.  Several  of  these  connecting  pieces  are  prepared  be- 
forehand, and  when  the  wire  of  one  is  broken,  another  piece  is  quickly  sub- 
stituted. The  spring  at  the  2d  target  re-makes  the  circuit  automatically  after 
breaking. 

The  .22  calibre  Colt  Magazine  gun,  described  above,  is  used  for  these  ex- 
periments, as  only  small  charges  and  bullets  would  be  safe.  The  space 
passed  over  by  the  bullet  is  enclosed  with  a  wire  netting,  which  leaves  a  pas- 
sage down  to  the  second  target  for  inspection  of  the  electric  connection  on 
the  back.  A  fixed  rest  supports  the  gun.  This  is  such  as  is  used  for  testing 
at  Frankford  Arsenal,  to  secure  steadiness  of  the  piece.  It  consists  of  a  heavy 
frame  which  can  be  turned  about  })oth  vertical  and  horizontal  axes  at  the 
front,  and  it  has  running  lengthwise  a  slide,  to  which  the  gun  is  attached  in 
such  a  manner  that  in  recoil  the  plate  moves  back  parallel  to  the  axis  of  the 
piece,  and  does  not  disturb  the  aim.  This  rest  is  also  used  in  testing  the  ac- 
curacy of  the  arm,  and  reduced  targets  are  given,  showing,  from  views  ob- 
served in  a  camera  obscura,  the  grouping  of  shots  at  500  yards  when  the  aim 
is  kept  on  one  point.  In  a  group  of  ten  shots  the  average  distance  of  the 
shots  from  the  center  of  tlie  group  is  less  than  S  inches  for  the  Springfield 
rifle. 


The  Benton  double  pendulum  chroiiograiih,  and  the  Le  Boulcnge  drop 
chronograph  are  used  in  the  gallery  for  measuring  the  time  of  flight  be- 
tween the  two  targets,  which  can  be  connected  at  will  with  either  instrument. 

5.  Benton's  Double  Pendulum  Chronograph. 

This  was  invented  by  the  late  Colonel  J.  G.  Benton,  Ordnance  Dept.,  U. 
S.  A.  Two  pendulums  turning  on  bearings  in  line  with  each  other  are  hung 
in  front  of  the  vertical  face  of  a  frame  having  a  scale  below  curved  to  corres- 
pond to  the  motion  of  the  lower  ends  of  the  pendulum.  An  electro-magnet 
on  one  side  of  the  axis  is  connected  with  one  of  the  target  circuits,  and  a  cor- 
responding electro-magnet  on  the  opposite  side  is  connected  with  the  other 
circuit.     These  are  placed  so  that  when  active  each  will  hold  one  of  the  pendu- 


War  Depart meni  Exhibit.  85 

lums  horizontiil.  The  instrument  is  adjusted  so  tliat  if  both  currents  are 
broken  at  the  same  instant,  the  penduhiins  will  cross  eacli  other  at  the  zero 
of  the  scale,  when  the  instrument  is  leveled  so  that  it  is  at  the  bottom  jioint. 
Cross  levels  allow  adjustment  by  means  of  screw  feet  running  through  three 
legs  and  resting  on  a  solid  foundation.  The  currents  can  be  broken  simul- 
taneously by  a  special  disjunctor  placed  near  the  instrument.  Wlicn  the  cir- 
cuits are  broken  by  the  passage  of  the  shot,  the  pendulnms  fall  successively, 
and  the  number  of  degrees  on  the  scale  included  between  their  point  of  pass- 
age and  the  lowest  point,  gives,  by  reference  to  previously  calculated  tai)lcs, 
the  time  intervening  between  the  rupture  of  the  first  and  second  targets.  To 
obtain  the  velocity,  divide  the  space  in  feet  between  the  targets  by  the  fraction 
of  a  second  it  took  the  bullet  to  pass  over  the  distance. 

The  inner  pendulum  carries  a  bent  lever,  a  point  on  the  rear  lever  arm 
being  stained  with  printer's  ink,  the  arm  on  the  other  end  projecting  to  the 
front  so  as  to  l)e  struck  by  a  pin  projecting  from  the  rear  of  the  front  pendu- 
lum. When  the  pendulums  })ass,  the  lever  is  moved,  and  the  inked  point 
is  thrown  against  the  silvered  scale,  indicating  the  place  of  meeting. 

The  instrument  also  has  attachments,  which  allow  the  pendulums  to 
be  held  up  by  Unit  thrench,  one  extending  to  and  across  the  muzzle,  and 
the  other  to  a  swingmg  plate,  where  it  is  clamped.  The  first  thread  is  broken 
by  the  bullet  and  the  second  loosened  by  nu)vement  of  the  plate  when  struck, 
so  allowing  the  pendulums  to  drop.  The  arrangement  for  holding  up  a  peiulu- 
lum  is  a  lever  turning  a  horizontal  axis,  a  shallow  notch  at  the  bottom 
catching  the  end  of  the  jjendulum  when  the  thread  fastened  to  the  top  arm  is 
stretched.  Fr.iTu  Frankford  Arsenal. 

6.  The  Le  Boulenge  drop  chronograph. 

This  was  invented  by  Major  Le  Boulenge,  of  the  Belgian  service.  It  was 
first  introduced  to  the  public  here  through  descriptions  translated  by  Capt. 
O.  E.  Michaelis,  Ordnance  Dept.,  U.  S.  A.  Instead  of  two  pendulums  sup- 
ported by  electro-magnets,  two  rods  are  used,  which  can  drop  freely  when  re- 
leased by  demagnetization  of  the  electro-magnets  on  breaking  the  currents. 
One  rod  is  ({uite  long  and  the  other  short.  The  magnet  holding  the  long  rod 
is  connected  with  the  first  target,  and  the  other  with  the  second.  The  short 
rod  in  falling  strikes  one  end  of  a  rocking  piece  which  on  the  other  end  has  a 
hook  holding  back  a  spring,  this  spring  moving  horizontally  when  released 
by  the  jar,  and  a  knife  on  its  free  end  striking  against  the  long  rod  as  the 
latter  is  falling.  The  long  rod  is  sheathed  with  a  movaljle  zinc  tube,  which 
receives  the  blow  and  becomes  indented.  A  scale  is  used  to  measure  the 
height  of  this  indent  above  the  indent  which  would  be  made  by  the  knife  if  it 
struck  while  the  long  rod  was  still  suspended,  and  this  shows  the  distance  the 
long  rod  falls  before  the  knife  strikes  it.  The  time  corresponding  to  this  dis- 
tance of  fall  from  rest  can  be  readily  calculated.  If  both  currents  are  broken 
simultaneouslj',  by  means  of  a  disjunctor  like  that  used  with  the  Benton  ma- 
chine, this  gives  the  time  it  takes  the  instrument  to  work,  and  adjustment  is 
usually  made  to  have  this  15-lOOths  of  a  second  for  convenieiu'e  of  reference. 
If  the  rods  fall  through  rupture  of  the  currents  by  the  bullet,  the  time  ob- 
tained is  that  occupied  in  the  working  of  the  instrument  ami  in  tiie  flight  of 
the  bullet.     The  difl'erence  between  the  two  times  so  olitained  is  the  time  of 


86  War  Departfnent  Exhibit. 

fliglit.    Tables  are  constructed  for  a  disjunction  mark  of  .15  second,  corre- 
sponding to  different  distances  between  targets. 


There  is  anotlier  pL-nduliun  chronograpli  in  the  exhibit,  one  of  the  earliest 
forms,  the  one  pendulum  Vignotti,  not  oonneoted  with  the  target.  The 
otliers,  partifularly  (he  drop  clironograph,  liaving  superseded  it. 

7.  Vignotti  one  pendulum  chronograph. 

This  is  a  device  invented  about  1857.  by  Captain  Vignotti,  of  the  French 
army.  The  one  pemhilum  is  suspended  by  an  electro  magnet,  as  in  the  two 
pendulum  machine.  The  pendulum,  hung  in  front  of  a  vertical  frame  of  vul- 
canite, has  at  its  lower  end  a  pointer  projecting  backwards,  and  in  the  frame, 
opposite  the  j)ath  described  by  tliis  pointer  in  the  oscillation  of  the  pendidum, 
is  a  curved  slot  covered  by  a  movable  metal  plate,  upon  the  face  of  which  is 
stretched  a  ciu'ved  strip  of  paper  imj^regnated  with  potassium  ferro-cyanide. 
The  pendulum  is  connected  with  one  end  of  tiie  secondary  wire  of  a  Ruhm- 
korffcoil,  and  tlie  plate,  insulated  from  the  pendulum,  is  connected  with  the 
other  end,  so  tliat  when  tlie  primary  circuit,  wliich  passes  to  the  targets,  is 
broken,  a  spark  passes  between  the  pointer  and  the  plate,  piercing  the  "paper 
and  discoloring  it  ])y  action  on  the  salt.  By  a  curved  scale,  below  the  slot, 
the  number  of  degrees  distance  of  this  mark  above  the  zero  can  be  read  off. 
As  originally  designed,  the  pendulum  was  released  by  rupture  of  the  first 
target,  and  the  spark  was  used  only  for  the  second  target,  and  for  others  in 
case  more  tlian  two  targets  were  used;  but  the  late  Col.  Laidley,  of  the  Ord- 
nance Department,  arranged  it  so  that  tlie  pendulum  would  drop  an  instant 
before,  and  connected  tlie  Riihmkorff  coil  with  the  first  target  as  well,  bring- 
ing the  interval  indicating  the  desired  time  lower  down  on  the  scale,  where 
the  motion  of  the  pendulum  would  be  more  rapid. 

This  instrument  is  an  improvement  on  the  Xavez  machine,  the  earliest 
form  that  attracted  general  attention,  in  wliich  a  light  arm  on  the  pendulum 
was  stopi)ed  by  an  electro-magnet  rendered  active  by  rupture  of  second  target ; 
the  magnet  being  attached  to  the  standard  near  the  center  of  motion. 

The  credit  of  first  using  the  spark  for  an  electro-chronograph  is  due  to  an 
American,  Professor  Henry,  whose  invention  has  not  been  recognized  by 
foreign  authors.  He  used  a  revolving  cylinder  having  a  motion  of  transla- 
tion, and  a  Ruhmkorff  coil  to  make  sparks  on  rupture  of  the  targets ;  in  an 
earlier  form,  described  in  1843,  using  galvanometer  needles  to  make  a  mark  on 
the  cylinder. 


There  are  many  other  forms  t)f  chronograph  not  sb()wn,  but  the  most 
practical  forms  for  ordinary  use,  and  especially  for  tit'ld  tests,  are  those  in 
operation  here. 

In  Europe,  and  especially  in  France,  there  are  many  new  instruments  of 
great  interest,  not  yet  imported,  for  obtaining  velocities  and  pressures.  One 
instrument,  first  described  here  in  General  Benet's  "  Electro  Ballastic  Ma- 
chines," to  be  found  in  the  library  of  the  exhibit,  was  brought  from  France — 
the  Schutz  chronoscope  using  the  induction  si>ark  with  a  revolving  cylinder 


IVar  Department  Exhibit.  87 


to  indicate  tlie  instant  of  rupture  and  measuring  the  time  interval  between 
the  marks  of  the  spark  by  sinuous  trace  made  by  a  vibrating-  tuning'  fork  on 
the  revolving  cylinder.     Ft  is  too  bulkv  for  exhibition  here. 


8.  Re-loading  tools. 

The  re-loading  of  cartridge  shells  is  practiced  extensively  by  tlie  U.S. 
troops  at  the  different  posts,  and  tools  made  at  Krankft)rd  Arsenal  for  the 
purpose  are  supplied.  A  set  of  hand  re-loading  tools,  such  as  are  issued  to 
each  company,  is  shown ;  also  a  set  of  bench  re-loading  tools,  as  issued  one 
to  each  post.  The  bench  tools  are  shown  in  operation  in  the  gallery,  and  tlie 
processes  of  de-capping,  re-sizing,  and  re-capping  the  shell,  charging  with 
powder  and  lubricated  bullet,  and  crimping  in  the  latter,  can  be  seen.  An 
imitation  of  powder,  made  l)y  mixing  line  hominy  with  bmii.-l.laek.  is  used  in 
place  of  powder  to  avoid  danger  of  explosion. 

9.  Motion  of  bullets. 

This  is  illustrated  by  a  special  device,  which  shows  to  the  eye,  without 
the  need  of  diagrams,  the  following  phenomena: 

Accuracy  preserved  with  sight  vertical,  even  if  the  liarrel  is  turned  about 
its  axis,  as  with  a  field  gun  on  uneven  ground. 

The  deflection  caused  b;/  incliniiuj  the  sight  to  one  side. 

The  effect  of  varying  charge. 

The  influence  of  weight  o\\  balls  of  the  same  size  projected  with  equal  ve- 
locity ;  the  heavier  ball  being  less  retarded  by  the  air. 

The  influence  of  size  on  Ijalls  of  equal  weight:  the  small  hall  being  less 
retarded. 

Tlie  influence  of  form  on  projectiles  of  equal  weight  and  volume;  an 
elongated  projectile,  moving  point  on,  suffering  less  resistance  from  the  air, 
and  carrying  further  than  a  round  ball  of  the  same  weight  and  volume,  or 
the  elongated  projectile  moving  sidewise. 

The  influence  of  wings,  front  or  rear,  on  equally  balanced  projectiles;  the 
wings  tending  to  keep  the  winged  end  to  the  rear. 

The  influence  of  the  balance  of  a  long  projectile,  or  the  position  of  its  cen- 
ter of  gravity ;  the  projectile  keeping  point  on  if  the  front  end  is  much  heavier 
than  the  rear,  but  "  tumbling"  if  the  rear  end  is  the  heavier. 

The  amount  of  '^drop"  in  a  shot  from  the  line  of  fire  (the  prolcmgation 
of  the  axis  of  the  barrel) :  when  the  axis  is  horizontal,  a  ball  droj^ped  from 
the  muzzle  of  the  barrel  as  the  projected  ball  leaves  it,  reaching  the  level 
ground  at  the  same  instant  as  the  other;  and  whatever  the  inclination  of  the 
line  of  fire,  a  ball  dropped  from  any  point  on  it  meeting  tlie  other  hall  in  its 
flight, — consequently  reaching  the  ground  at  the  same  time,  if  the  jtoint  of 
suspension  is  over  the  point  of  ground  .struck  by  the  proj(  etilc.  The  case  of 
horizontal  fire  is  a  particular  case  of  the  other. 

The  influence  of  Rotation,  on  an  elongated  projectile;  the  projectile  keep- 
ing its  point  on  when  rotating  around  the  longer  axis  even  when  the  front  end 
is  lighter  than  the  rear. 

The  gyroscopic  effect  from  the  resistance  of  the  air  in  turning  the  axis  of  a 
rotating  projectile  not  perfectly  balanced  lengthwise;  shown  by  a  tiyinggyro- 
scope  representing  the  projectile. 


War  Department  Exhibit. 


The  injiiiencc  of  the  air  on  rotating  round  halls;  when  the  rotation  is  about 
a  vertical  axis,  as  in  the  "  curved  ball  "  of  base  ball  pitchers,  the  ball  moving  to 
the  right  or  left;  when  the  rotation  is  about  the  line  of  tire  giving  a  similar 
eifect ;  and  when  it  is  about  a  horizontal  axis  perpendicular  to  the  line  of  fire, 
giving  an  upward  or  downward  tendency  to  the  ball. 

The  lateral  presxKre  of  the  air  on  rotating  elongated  projectiles,  independent 
of  the  gyroscopic  action  ;  a  verj'  great  drop  from  the  line  of  fire,  as  in  high 
angle  firing,  tending  to  make  this  influence  more  important,  so  that  it  niay 
cause  a  deviation  to  the  opposite  side  from  that  due  totlie  change  of  direction 
of  the  axis  from  the  gyroscopic  effect,  this  change  of  direction  causing  the 
projectile  to  slide  of^,  as  it  were,  from  the  vertical  plane  of  fire. 

10.  Targets  used  in  U.  S.  service. 

Target  A,  elliptical,  used  at  100  and  200  yds.,  regular  practice. 

Target  B,  elliptical,  used  at  400  to  (500  yds.',  regular  practice. 

Target  C,  elliptical,  used  at  800  to  1000  yds.,  regiilar  practice. 

Target  D,  front  silhouette  of  man  standing  ready  to  fire;  cloth  and  paper 
fastened  to  a  steel  frame,  skir^nish  practice. 

Target  E,  front  silhouette  of  man  kneeling  ready  to  fire;  cloth  and  paper 
fastened  to  a  steel  frame,  skirmish  practice. 

Target  F,  front  silhouette  of  man  lying  down,  sk!rinish  practice. 

11.  Effect  of  bullets  fired  against  glass. 

A  large  pane  of  glass  perforated  by  bullets  from  Winchester  rifles  in  the 
Cincinnati  riots  of  1884. 

From  the  windows  of  the  Danbury  Hat  Store,  Main  street. 


RELICS  AND  MISCELLANEOUS  ARTICLES. 


ANTIQUE  AND  CURIOUS  WEAPONS. 

Straight  sword  from  India.     History  unknown. 

Persian  sword  and  scabbard,  inlaid  with  silver.  Blade  covered  with 
proverbs  in  Arabic,  taken  from  the  Koran. 

iScimiter,  with  scabbard.     India.     History  unknown. 

Short  sword,  with  scabbard,  from  India. 

Short  sword,  with  scabbard,  from  India.     Inlaid  with  silver. 

Japanese  fan  dagger. 

Lady's  "Punch"  (dagger),  with  scabbard.     East  Indian. 

Two  Persian  daggers,  with  scabbard.  Inlaid  with  silver.  Blade  cov- 
ered with  inscriptions  in  Arabic,  probal)ly  taken  from  the  Koran. 

African  assegai. 

East  Indian  chief's  sword.     Captured  at  siege  of  Delhi. 

Sword  of  pattern  carried  in  1610.     History  unknown. 


War  Department  Exhibit.  gp 


Antique  sword,  corresponding  with  latter  half  ..f  Kith  Centiirv 
Japanese  executioner's  sword. 
Sword  formerly  worn  bj'  Japanese  otiicial 

Japanese  lances.      A  very  full  and    interestiug  c.llectio.,   „f  diflercnt 
makes. 

Spanish  pike.  Presented  by  Col.  Juan  J.  Marin.  Roval  Spanish  Knuiuoer. 
Three  European  Lances.     Modern. 

Halberd,  a  combination  of  jnlce  and  battle  axe.   rse.l  princinallv  in  1.5th 
and  16th  Century.  '      '' 

Anti(]uc  fauchard. 

Bill.     Used  by  foot  soldiers  of  the  time  of  Poitiers,  1.^5(!. 

French  helmet.     From  battle-field  of  Sedan.    Shows  mark  of  sal.re  .stroke 

French  cuirass.     From  battle-field  of  Sedan.     Pierced  by  a  bullet  from  a 
Prussian  needle  gun. 

The  above  collection  is  from  tlie  National  .\rinorv. 


MEMENTOES  OF  THE  REVOLUTION  AND  WAR 
OF  1812. 

Badge  of  the  Society  of  the  Cincinnati,  worn  by  Cien'l  Wm.  Burnet,  Phy- 
sician and  Surgeon  Gen'l  in  the  Army  of  the  United  States,  with  certificate  of 
membership  signed  by  George  Washington.  Loaned  by  Mr.  Wm.  Burnet, 
Cincinnati,  Ohio. 

Certificate  of  membershi])  of  Col.  Oliver  Spencer,  Society  of  the  Cincin- 
nati, signed  by  George  Washington.  Loaned  by  Mr.  Wm.  Williamson,  New- 
port, Ky. 

British  officer's  gorget,  picked  up  after  the  battle  of  Saratoga. 

Old  sword,  supposed  to  have  been  presentbd  by  Frederick  IL,  Landgrave 
of  Hesse,  to  the  commanding  officer  of  his  troops,  sent  against  the  new  Re- 
public of  the  United  States. 

Three  shot  dug  up  at  Fort  Montgomery,  West  Point,  N.  Y. 

Two  bullets,  American  and  British,  found  on  the  battle-ground  at 
Lundy's  Lane,  Canada,  after  the  battle  fought  between  the  American  and 
British  troops  on  the  25th  day  of  July,  1814.  Presented  to  Military  Academy 
by  Lucius  D.  Hill,  late  Col.  N.  Y.  Tnft.,  Oct.,  1884. 


MEMENTOES  OF  THE  MEXICAN  WAR. 

Mexican  flag-staffs. 

Copy  of  a  letter  from  General  Scott  accompanying  the  flag-staffs  and  de- 
scribing them : 

West  Point,  N.  Y.,  Sept.  17,  1848. 

Sir— I  ofier  through  you  to  the  United  States  Military  Academy  sections 
of  seven  flag-statfs,  taken  by  the  gallant  army  of  the  United  States  in  the 
campaign  that  commenced  at  Vera  Cruz  and  terminated  in  the  Capital  of 
Mexico.    Four  other  staffs  captured  with  the  strong  works,  viz.,  the  intrenched 


X 


90  War  Department  Exhibit. 

camp  of  Contreras,  the  Convent  of  Churubnsco,  the  bridge  head  of  Churu- 
bnsco,  and  tlie  Citadel  of  Mexico,  were  divided  into  small  individual  trophies 
by  our  officers  and  men,  before  my  wishes  on  the  subject  had  become  gener- 
ally known.  Of  course  all  cai)tured  flags,  colors,  etc.,  were,  as  national  tro- 
phies, sent  to  Washington.  Tlie  following  inscriptions  have  been  placed  on 
the  respective  objects : 

1st.  Part  of  the  flag-staff  of  the  Castle  of  Han  Juan  de  Ulua,  Vera  Cruz, 
taken  by  the  American  army,  March  29th,  1847. 

2d.  Part  of  the  flag-staff  of  Fort  San  lago,  Vera  Cruz,  taken  by  the 
American  army,  ^larch  29th,  1847. 

3d.  Part  of  the  flag-staff  of  Fort  Coiiception,  Vera  Cruz,  taken  bj-  the 
American  army,  March  29tli,  1847. 

4th.  Part  of  the  flag-staff  of  Cerro  Gordo,  taken  hy  the  American  army, 
April  18th,  1847. 

5th.  Part  of  the  flag-staff  of  the  Castle  of  Perote,  taken  liy  the  American 
army,  April  23,  1847. 

6th.  Part  of  the  flag-staff  of  the  Castle  of  Chapultepec,  taken  ])y  the 
American  army,  September  13,  1847. 

7th.  Part  of  the  flag-staff  of  the  National  Palace  of  Mexico,  taken  by  the 
American  array,  September  14,  1847. 

At  the  foot  of  each  inscription  this  line  is  added  :  "  The  plates  and  caps 
(all  brass)  made  of  the  mountings  of  captured  muskets."  It  may  be  worth 
stating  that  the  caps  and  plates  were  made  in  the  Citadel  of  Mexico  by  the 
mechanics  of  our  own  army. 

As  under  Providence  it  was  mainly  to  the  Military  Academy  that  the 
United  States  became  indebted  for  these  brilliant  achievements  and  other 
memorable  victories  in  the  same  war,  I  have  a  livelj'  pleasure  in  tendering 
the  seven  trophies  (serai-national)  to  the  mother  of  so  manj'  accomplished 
soldiers  and  patriots.  If  acceptable,  please  give  them  such  place  of  deposit 
in  the  Academy  as  you  maj'  deem  appropriate. 

With  high  respect  and  esteem,  I  remain,  yours  faithfully, 

(Signed)  Winfield  Scott. 

Captain  Henry  Breweetox,  Superintendent  U.  S.  INIilitary  Academy. 

The  above  articles,  with  numerous  others  from  West  Point,  were  furnished 
through  the  courtesy  of  Bvt.  Major  Gen.  .1.  G.  Parke,  Supt.  of  the  ^lilitary 
Academy. 

Flag  carried  by  Duncan\<<  Battcnj  through  the  Mexican  War. 

Wheel  from  Duncan's  Battery. 
The  names  of  the  following  battles  the  battery  was  in  are  printed  on  the 
wheel:  Battle  of  Churubusco,  Aug.  20,  1847;  battle  of  Vera  Cruz,  March, 
1847;  battle  of  Monterey,  Sept.  21,  22,  23,  1846;  battle  of  Resaca  de  la  Palraa, 
May  9,  1846;  battle  of  Palo  Alto,  May  8,  1846;  battle  of  City  of  Mexico,  Sept. 
12,  13,  14,  1847;  battle  of  Chapultepec,  Sept.  12,  1847;  battle  of  Molino  Del 
Rey,  Sept.  8,  1847.  This  wheel  shows  two  of  the  spokes  spread  apart  by  the 
blow  of  a  cannon  ball.     The  battery  flag  is  wrapped  around  the  wheel. 

Two  Mexican  cannon  balls  of  copper. 


JVar  Department  Exhibit.  91 


MEMENTOES  OF  THE  REBELLION. 

Seven  John  Brown    I'ikc.^. 

"  By  far  the  larger  proportion  of  John  Brown's  Pikes  were  sliipped  oft"  to 
the  South  by  Floyd  during  Buchanan's  administration,  and  during  the  latter 
days  of  the  war,  when  the  Confederates  were  out  of  arms,  money,  and  eredit, 
these  pikes  and  a  quantity  of  scythes  were  used  to  arm  a  Texas  regiment, 
from  which  they  were  captured  and  stored  at  :Mt.  Vernon,  Ala.,  Arsenal, 
which  was  burned  above  them.  The  Government  then  sent  them  to  the 
Arsenal,  Rock  Island,  111.,  to  be  rolled  into  new  iron,  but  as  the  rolling  mill 
was  not  in  operation,  they  were  sold." — Newspaper  extract. 

From  National  .Vrmory. 

Flag-staff  i>f  Fort  Sumter. 

A  piece  fifteen  feet  long  of  the  staO'  that  stood  on  Fort  Sumter  whei»  sur" 
rendered. 

First  shot  fired  at  Fort  Sumter.  From  West  Point. 

First  shot  fired  from  Fort  Sumter;  April  13,  1861.  Found  in  the  quarters 
of  Gen.  Beauregard.  From  West  Point. 

Model  of  SuHorip  Aiujel  Battcri/. 

The  labor  of  constructing  this  battery  was  mostly  performed  at  night,  by 
Col.  E.  W.  Serrell's  regiment  of  N.  Y.  Volunteer  Engineers.  The  200-i>ounder 
Parrott,  mounted  in  it,  was  transported  by  water  to  the  creek  landing,  just  in 
front  of  the  battery.  The  battery  was  7,000  yards  distant  from  the  nearest 
point  of  the  city  of  Charleston.  The  gun  was  tired  with  a  charge  of  16  pounds 
of  powder,  at  an  elevation  of  37  degrees,  and  some  of  the  shells  were  charged 
with  tubes  of  Greek  tire. 

Froiu  Governor's  Island  Museum,  by  permission  of  the  owiu'r,  (fen.  W. 
W.  H.  Davis,  of  Philadelphia. 

Sketch  of  Swamp  Angel  Batter II.  Showing  mortars  which  replaced  the 
200-pounder  Parrott  rifle. 

The  sketch  was  made  and  loaned  by  <'ol.  .T.  W.  Abert,  late  of  corps  of 
engineers,  U.  S.  Army,  now  living  at  Newport,  Ky. 

Joined  bullets. 

T\vo  bullets,  one  Federal  and  one  Confederate,  which  met  in  the  air  at 
the  battle  of  Petersburg,  and  were  found  on  the  field  joined  togetluT.  Pre- 
sented to  Ordnance  Office  by  Brevet  Lieut.  Col.  E.  Rice. 

Bullet.  Entered  the  body  of  John  M.  Roberts,  Co.  F,  SM  Indiana  Vol., 
at  Vicksburg,  Miss.,  May  19,  1863.  Loaned  by  Mr.  Rol)erts. 

Field  office  wagon,  used  by  the  late  Maj.  Gen'i  George  H.  Tiiomas  during 
the  Atlanta  campaign. 

Rifle  musket  from  battle-field  of  the  Civil  War;  barrel  perforated  by  ludlet. 

Rifle  musket  from  battle-field;  bullet  imbedded  in  barrel  near  front  sight. 

/,'//('  musket  from  battle-field.    Barrel  burst  by  meeting  of  two  bullets. 

Oak  tree  cut  down  by  bullets  at  Spottsi/lvania. 

Section  of  an  oak  tree  which  stood  inside  the  Confederate  intrenchments 
at  the  battle  of  Spottsylvania  Court  House,  May  12.  1864.  It  was  cut  down 
by  musket  balls  during  the  attempt  to  recapture  the  works  previously  car- 


92  War  Department  Exhibit. 

ried  by  the  2d  Corps,  Army  of  the  Potomac,  May  12,  18(U.  Presented  to  the 
Ordnance  Museum  by  Brevet  Maj.  Gen'l  N.  A.  Miles,  and  transferred  to  Na- 
tional Museum  in  1888.  Returned  from  Sniitlisonian  Institution  for  exhibit 
in  the  War  Department  section  through  the  courtesy  of  Profess(jr  Q.  Brown 
Goode. 

Model  of  Fort  Wagner,  Morris  Island,  South  Carolina.  Scale  1"  to  25', 
1-300.  Made  by  Col.  J.  W.  Abert.  Loaned  by  W.  B.  Carpenter,  Esq.,  Presi- 
dent of  Cincinnati  Mercantile  Library. 

.1  portion  of  Fort   Wagner  flag-mtaff. 

Rail  twistedhii  the  ssoldiers  of  Gen'l  Sherman's  army  in  the  campaign  of  1864. 
Western  and  Atlantic  R.  R.  Presented  by  Lt.  Col.  W.  R.  King,  Corps  of  En- 
gineers, U.  S.  Army.  To  disable  railroads  the  rails  were  placed  over  bonfires 
until  red  hot  in  the  middle,  and  then  the  soldiers  seized  them  by  the  ends 
and  ran  against  a  tree  or  telegraph  pole  to  bend  tlie  rail. 

Model  of  a  block-house.  Devised  by  Lt.  Col.  Wm.  E.  Merrill,  Corps  of 
Engineers,  U.  S.  A.,  and  used  in  the  Department  of  the  Cumberland  for  the 
defense  of  railroad  bridges.  Block-houses  of  this  form  were  designed  to  be 
defended  by  musketry,  and  to  withstand  the  effects  of  field  artillery.  They 
are  square  in  form.  They  have  two  stories,  tiie  lower  being  formed  of  a  double 
thickness  of  heavy  logs,  and  loop-holed.  The  upper  story  is  smaller,  of  lighter 
construction,  and  is  intended  to  afford  a  look-out  and  more  comfortable  quar- 
ters when  the  garrison  is  not  engaged,  but  to  be  aliandoned  in  action,  the  occu- 
pants retreating  to  the  lower  story.  The  block-house  is  surrounded  by  a 
ditch,  from  the  bottom  of  which  an  embankment  is  run  to  the  under  side  of 
the  loop-holes.  Colonel  Merrill  designed  several  other  block-houses,  for  vari- 
ous purposes,  descriptions  and  drawings  of  which  may  be  found  in  the  ap- 
pendix to  Van  Horn's  History  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland. 

Confederate  torpedo — tin.  Intended  to  sink  the  U.  S.  gunboats  on  the 
blockade  at  the  mouth  of  St.  John's  rivfer,  Florida.  Charge,  75  pounds  pow- 
der.    Presented  to  Military  Academy  by  Lieut.  Col.  W.  Burns. 

Confederate  torpedo— tin.  Fretwell's  Percussion.  Presented  to  Military 
Academy  by  Guy  V.  Henry,  1st  Lieut.  1st  Artillery,  and  Col.  40th  [Mass. 
Volunteers— commanding  U.  S.  forces  at  W^est  Point,  Va.,— since  Major  9th 
Cavalry. 

Confederate  torpedo — copper.  A  line  of  these  torpedoes  was  stretched  across 
the  Louisville  road,  in  front  of  the  rebel  works  at  Savannah,  Ga.  Presf^nted 
to  Military  Academy  by  A.  Baird. 

Confederate  keg  torpedo.  From  light-house  inlet,  Charleston,  S.  C.  Pre- 
sented to  Military  Academy  by  Lieut.  Com.  Geo.  Bacon,  V.  S.  N. 

Death  of  Lt.  Cushing  at  battle  of  Gettysburg.  Picture  in  frame,  loaned 
by  Mr.  Alfred  Holmes,  in  charge  of  Philii)poteaux's  Cyclorama  of  the  Battle 
of  Gettysburg. 

Fonr teen  swords,  Confederate.  Fnim  National  Arnmry  Museum. 

Jefferson  l)ari.'<'  rifle.     Taken  at  timcof  his  cai)ture. 

SHOT    .\XD   SHEI.L. 

These  are  from  the  collection  made  by  Bvt.  Brig.  Gen'l  H.  L.  Al)bot,  after 
the  war,  and  presented  to  the  Military  Academy. 


War  Department  Exhibit.  93 

Shot  with  wire  tlirouj^h  renter,  Confederate;  winged  shot,  Confederate, 
from  battle-field  in  Pennsylvania;  two  wrought  iron  shot.  Confederate,  Fort 
Fisher;  Confederate  shot,  pierced  with  small  holes;  two  ritle  shot  for  breech 
loader, Confederate ;  two  case  sliot,  Confederate ;  two  shell  (tired), Confederate ; 
shot  with  copper  band.  Confederate ;  shot  with  copper  cup  and  wooden 
sabot.  Confederate;  composition  shot,  hard  rubber.  Confederate;  baj;  of 
grape,  cut  links,  Confederate;  turbine  shot,  hole  throufi:h  center;  Abljot's 
sliot;  Cochran's  diagonal  shot,  with  two  lead  bands;  Lawson's  shot;  two 
Ritner  and  Day's  lead  shot ;  diagonal  shot;  32-pounder  shot  (lired),  lead  base  ; 
chain  shot  and  case ;  chain  sliot,  with  two  balls  attached  ;  chain  shot  in  four 
parts ;  Huginin  ;  Sawyer ;  8-inch  Armstrong.blind  :  Mclntyre's  repeating ;  Dini- 
mick;  Stafford;  7-incli  Sclicnkl;  10-inch  mortar  with  handles;  Sawyer  ex- 
perimental and  other  shell ;  21  pdr.  canister;  12  pdr.  stand  of  grape;  12  pdr. 
stand  of  grape,  quilted  ;  21  pdr.  stand  of  grape  ;  Wliitwortb  sliort  sliell ;  .s-in(;h 
carcass  ribbed  ;  light  ball. 

Capt.  McCarthy,  (Commanding  Battery  B,  1st  Regiment  of  Artillery  0. 
N.  G.,  at  Cincinnati,  also  loaned  a  nund>er  of  shot  and  shell,  relics  of  the 
Rebellion. 


RELICS  OF  GREELY  EXPEDITION. 

The  Grcely  Arctic  fla'j;  Lady  Franklin  P.iiy  l^.xpedition,  l,S.Sl-84.  I^oaned 
by  Mrs.  A.  W.  Greely. 

This  flag  was  made  by  Mrs.  A.  \V.  Greely,  and  was  intrusted  to  Octave 
Pary,  M.  D.,  and  was  carried  by  him  to  Greenland  in  a  private  Arctic  Expedi- 
tion of  1880.  Dr.  Pary  delivered  it  to  Lieut.  A.  \\.  Greely.  5th  Cavalry  at 
Rittenbenk.  Greenland,  in  July,  1881.  The  flag  was  carried  in  May,  1882,  by 
Lieut.  Lockwood,  23d  Infantry,  to  latitude  83  degrees,  25  minutes,  longi- 
tude 40  degrees,  46  minutes;  and  was  there  unfurled  by  him  at  the  nearest 
point  to  the  North  Pole  ever  attained  by  man.  In  the  summer  of  1882,  the 
flag  was  carried  by  Lieut.  Greely  in  to  the  interior  of  Grinnell  Land,  and  was 
unfurled  by  him  July  4th,  froni  the  highest  point  in  Grinnell  Land,  the  sum- 
mit of  Mt.  Chester  A.  Arthur,  4,500  feet  above  the  sea. 

In  1883.  it  was  carried  to  the  shores  of  the  polar  ocean  north  of  Green- 
lan.l  l)y  Lieut.  Lockwood ;  taken  again  by  Lieut.  Lockwood  southwest  across 
Grinnell  Land  to  the  western  polar  ocean,  where  it  was  dis|)layed  on  the 
shore  of  Greely  Fiord,  May  Kith. 

The  flag  was  also  displayed  on  the  launch  Lady  Greely  on  a  trij)  made  dur- 
ing the  summer  of  1882,  into  Weyprecht  Fiord,  to  the  head  of  Laily  Franklin 
Sound,  and  down  Kennedy  Channel  to  Cape  Craigcroft;  and  during  the  re- 
treat from  Fort  Conger  to  Cai)e  Sabin  in  autumn  of  18S4.  The  flag  has  been 
four  years  in  the  Arctic  Cuxle,  and  has  been  unfurle.l  nearer  the  North  Pole 
than  any  other  flag  in  the  world. 

Loaned  by  permission  of  :Mrs.  Greely,  from  the  Museum  at  Covernor  s 

Island.  ,     r  .1      IT    vj    w- 

Sraall  block  of  wood  from  the  sheeting  next  to  the  keel  of  the  V.  ^.  S. 

Bear,  of  the  Greely  Relief  Expe.lition  of  1884.  ,      ,     ,. 

Small  block  of  wood  from  the  keel  of  the  F.  S.  S.  15ear.  of  the  Greely  Re- 
lief Expedition  of  1884. 


94  Wat  Departinent  Exhibit. 

Piece  of  ivood  taken  from  the  shoe  over  the  propeller  of  the  flagship 
Thetis,  of  the  Greely  Relief  Expedition  of  1884. 

Small  block  of  wood  from  the  keel  of  the  U.  S.  S.  Bear,  of  the  Greely  Re- 
lief Expedition  of  1884. 

Wdotlen  cane,  made  from  the  keel  of  the  U.  S.  S.  Bear,  of  the  Greely  Relief 
Expedition  of  1884. 

Bottle  of  mm.  taken  from  cache  in  Littleton  Island  hy  Greely  Relief  Ex- 
pedition, 1884.  Deposited  by  Beebe  in  1882.  Presented  hy  Lieut.  8.  C.  Lemly, 
U.  S.  Navy,  to  Capt.  Geo.  E.  Pond,  A.  Q.  M!  U.  S.  Army,  and  loaned  hy  ('apt. 
Pond  to  Museum,  at  Governor's  Island. 

Piece  of  leather:  the  last  rations  of  the  Greely  Arctic  Exploring  Expe- 
dition, taken  from  Camp  Clay  hy  Lieut.  J.  C.  Colwell,  U.  S.  Navy.  TJiey  had 
lived  on  this  and  rock  lichen  for  about  three  months. 


MISCELLANEOUS     MODERN     ARMS,     FLAGS,     TENTS, 

ETC. 

Fourteen  sword  and  sabre  blades,  heavy  and  light,  nearly  all  of  "Toledo" 
manufacture. 

Fourteen  swords  and  sabres,  old  model,  with  brass  or  bone  hilt,  hearly  all 
for  light  artillery. 

Board  of  sworils;  showing  cadet  sword,  staff  and  foot  officers'  swords, 
cavalry  officer's  sabre  and  their  scabbards,  in  various  stages  of  manufacture. 

Board  of  twenty-four  trowel  bayonets ;  comprising  wooden  models  of  com- 
bination and  trowel  bayonet  blades,  by  Col.  .7.  G.  Benton,  Ordnance  Dept. , 
and  Felix  (Jhillingworth;  Rice's  trowel  bayonets,  and  various  bowie  knives, 
hunting  knives  and  intrenching  tools,  intended  to  be  attached  as  a  bayonet 
to  the  rifie ;  one  intrenching  tool  formed  on  bayonet  scabbard. 

Breech  Loadimj  Rifle  (Springfield);  calibre,  .50;  model,  1868.  Turned  in 
from  the  field;  stock  broken,  barrel  broken  and  twisted;  breech  and  lock 
mechanism  perfect.  Illustrates  the  serviceableness  of  Springfield  breech 
action. 

Cadet  fencing  musket  and  bayonet. 

Common  bayonets  and  suvrd  bayonets.  A  large  number  fixed  on  boards 
and  used  for  decoration. 

Prepared  by  Lieut.  C.  H.  Clark,  Ordnance  Dept.,  National  Armor^'. 

Flags  of  different  nations,  used  for  decoration,  and  supplied  by  the  Navj' 
Department. 

United  States  flags.     A  large  number  hung  from  the  walls  for  decoration. 

Supplied  by  the  Q.  M.  Dept. 

Models  of  tents;  hospital,  wall,  common  and  shelter  tents,  and  Sibley 
conical  tents,  one  made  with  vertical  walls  at  the  bottom. 

Furnished  by  the  Qr.  M.  Dept. 

Locking  rack  for  carbines  and  pistols.  Will  hold  20  guns  and  20  revolvers 
securelj^  locked  in  place;  revolvers  above  carbines.  Rock  Island  Arsenal. 

Locking  rack  for  rifles.    Holds  18  Springfield  rifles,  with  bayonets  attached. 
Loaned  by  Capt.  J.  L.  Tiernon,  3d  Art'y,  Newport  Barracks,  Ky. 

Settees  and  chairs  were  placed  in  the  exhibit,  loaned  by  thf  Bromwell 
Brush  and  Wire  Co.,  Cincinnati. 


War  Department  Exhibit.  95 


UNIFORMS    AND    ACCOUTREMENTS. 

These  are  exhibited  on  hiy  figures  of  men  dressed  in  uniform,  armed  and 
equipped.  All  init  the  first  lii>ure  came  from  the  (Quartermaster's  Depot, 
Jettersonville,  Indiana.     The  figures  are  scattered  about  the  exhilMt. 

1.  Minute  Man  of  the  Revolution. 

Dressed  in  brown  coat  with  cape,  scarlet  waistcoat,  l<uee-breeches,  sioucii 
hat,  shoes  with  silver  buckles;  powder-liorn  slung  over  shoulder;  s<|uirrel 
rifle  in  hand.  This  figure  staiuls  resting  against  the  gun  and  carriage  cap- 
tured at  Saratoga.  From  N'atinnal  Armory. 

2.  Commissary  sergeant ;  full  dress. 

3.  Hospital  steward ;  full  dress. 

4.  Chief  trumpeter  of  cavalr)' ;   full  dress. 

5.  Private  of  artillery,  time  of  war  ;  full  dress. 

6.  Private  of  cavalry,  time  of  war;  full  dress. 

7.  Private  of  infantry,  time  of  war;  full  dress. 

8.  Musician  of  infantry  ;  full  dress. 

9.  Chief  trumpeter  of  artillery  ;  full  dress. 
10    Private  of  artillery  ;  full  dress. 

11.  Corporal  of  ordnance,  time  of  war;  full  dress. 

12.  Private  of  artillery  ;  fatigue  uniform. 

13.  Private  of  infantry,  present  time;  full  dress. 

14.  Private  of  cavalry,  present  time ;  full  dress. 

15.  Private  of  iniantry,  present  time ;  fatigue  uniform. 

This  figure  shows  the  soldier  equipped  for  the  field  with  blanket,  over- 
coat, canteen,  cup,  and  witli  haversack  containing  meat  can,  plate,  knife, 
fork,  spoon,  etc.  Armed  with  rifle,  and  wearing  the  Mdls  wovcn-loop  cart- 
ridge belt  with  45  cartridges. 


MODEL    HORSE    WITH    CAVALRY    EQUIPMENTS  OF  LATEST  PATTERN. 

The  special  changes  in  equipment  consist  in  the  adoption  of  tiie  .Shoe- 
maker curb  bit,  with  device  to  prevent  shortening  the  cheek  strap  in  pulling 
rein ;  the  use  of  a  carbine  boot  attached  to  the  saddle  in  plaw?  of  the  old 
socket  attached  to  saddle  straps;  the  addition  of  an  infantry  liaversnck,  with 
meat  can,  etc.,  to  the  equipment;  adoption  of  a  short  canteen  strap  with 
spring  hook  for  fastening  to  saddle ;  and  arrangements  for  attaching  saber  to 
saddle  or  belt  at  will  by  detachable  saber  slings  after  the  model  of  the  old 
Stuart  attachment.  The  saddle  has  been  improved  in  outline  and  made 
flatter  under  the  bars.  The  Mills  woven-loop  cartridge  belt  is  used,  with 
buckle  in  place  of  belt  plate;  and  a  narrower  carbine  sling  is  adopted. 


96 


War  Department  Exhibit. 


The  model  sliows  the  horse  equipped  for  the  field,  and  a  lay  figure  of  cav- 
alry private  stands  by  the  side. 

KrJtitn  chcck-n-ln  atturhmcitt.  This  is  shown  on  the  horse.  It  consists  of 
a  spring  enclosed  in  rubber  and  attached  to  the  hit,  an  extra  rein  leading 
from  it.  The  rein  can  be  caught  over  the  pommel  of  the  saddle,  bringing 
slight  pressure  on  the  bit  and  controlling  the  horse,  i)ut  leaving  him  some 
freedom  of  motion. 

Figure  45  shows  the  construction  of  this  attachmciif ,  and  figure  46  repre- 
sents the  use  on  the  horse.  The  model  horse  was  furnished  through  the 
courtesy  of  Mr.  Mosby  and  Mr.  Fisher,  Society  of  Cincinnatus  in  this  city. 


Fig.  46. 


War  Department  Exhibit.  g-j 


SIGNAL  SERVICE  EXHIBIT. 


This  consi^^ts  mainly  of  instruments  usc.l  in  observations  for  forecasting 
the  weather.  Besides  these  instruments  a  full  kit  for  field  signaling  with 
fiags  and  torches  is  displayed.     Daily  weather  maps  and  reports  are  shown. 

The  instruments  ineludc  mercurial  antl  aneroid  barometers,  and  a  large 
number  of  thermometers  :  common,  sub-standard,  minimum,  solar-radiatinn, 
wet  and  dry  bulb  thermometers. 

There  are  also  the  following  instruments,  which  reijuire  to  be  more  fully 
described : 

1.  Sensitive  minimum  thermometer  for  ground  radiation. 

In  this  form  of  thermometer  a  degree  of  sensil)ility  is  claimed  to  be  at- 
tained equal  to  mercury  for  terrestrial  radiation.  The  bulb  consists  of  a  long 
cylinder  of  glass,  hollow,  and  about  which  a  second  cylinder  is  blown  and 
united  at  the  open  ends,  so  as  to  leave  a  thin  space  between  them  to  contain 
the  alcohol.  The  stem  of  the  thermometer  is  connected  to  a  middle  point  in 
the  outer  cylinder.  In  this  form  of  bulb  there  is  a  large  surface,  both  internal 
and  external,  for  the  air  to  come  in  contact  with,  and  the  volume  is  small, 
making  the  instrument  extremely  sensitive. 

2.  Piche  evaporimeter. 

This  consists  of  a  glass  tube  nine  inches  in  length,  graduated  to  show  the 
contents  in  cubic  centimetres  and  tenths.  It  is  filled  with  water  (preferably 
distilled  water)  and  suspended  vertically  by  an  eye  at  the  top.  On  the  lower 
open  end  of  the  tube  is  a  disk  of  paper,  kept  in  place  by  a  brass  spring, 
attached  to  a  slitted  collar  that  moves  along  the  tube. 

Evaporation  takes  place  from  the  surface  of  the  paper.  The  amount,  in 
cubic  centimetres,  in  any  time  is  given  by  the  difference  in  the  readings 
of  the  top  of  the  column  of  water  at  the  beginning  and  end  of  the  time.  The 
amount  of  paper  surface  from  wliich  evaporation  takes  place  varies  slightly 
in  the  diiTerent  instruments,  depending  on  the  diameters  of  the  glass  tubes, 
which  vary  from  14.0  to  15.5  millimetres.  There  is  about  11  square  centimetres 
of  surface  exposed.  The  evaporation  from  a  paper  surface,  such  as  is  fur- 
nished with  these  instruments,  is  about  one  and  one-third  times  greater  than 
that  from  an  equal  suiface  of  water  contained  in  a  shallow  dish. 

The  object  of  observations  with  these  instruments  is  to  ascertain  the  re- 
lation between  the  amount  of  evaporation  and  the  mean  daily  temperature 
and  dew-point,  as  determined  by  the  whirled  wet  and  dry  thermometer  and 
the  wind  velocity. 

3.  Standard  rain  gauge. 

The  standard  rain  gauge  of  the  Signal  Service  consists  of  three  parta, 


War  Department  Exhibit. 


viz :  The  collector,  the  receiver  and  the  overflow.  The  collector  is  funnel- 
shaped,  eight  inches  in  diameter  rtthe  top.  The  receiver  is  cylindrical,  2.53 
inches  in  diameter,  and  20  inches  deep.  The  overflow  is  (J  inches  in  diameter 
and  22  inches  deep. 

4.  Standard  snow  gauge. 

The  standard  snow  gauge  of  the  Signal  Service  consists  of  a  cylinder  S 
inches  in  diameter  and  20  inches  deep. 

5.  Draper's  self-recording  thermometer. 

This  is  a  metallic  thermometer.  Strips  of  steel  and  brass  about  twelve 
inches  long  are  soldered  throughout  their  length.  The  difference  in  their  ex- 
pansions cause  changes  in  the  curvature  of  the  strips,  one  end  of  which  is 


Kig.  47. 

fi.xed.  The  movements  of  the  other  end,  by  a  suitable  device,  produces  a  mo- 
tion of  the  registering  jien.  The  record  being  a  line  traced  on  a  disk,  has  the 
advantage  over  such  as  make  tracings  on  a  cylinder,  that  the  record  for  a 


War  Department  Exhibit.  99 

week  can  he  seen  without  inconvenience.  The  disk  holding  record  paper  is 
made  to  revolve  once  a  week  by  means  of  clock-work.  For  the  purpose  of 
insuring  greater  accuracy  in  the  record  at  times  when  the  temi)eraturo  is 
changing  from  rising  to  falling,  or  the  reverse,  the  instrument  is  provided 
with  two  compound  strips,  so  arranged  as  to  curve  in  opposite  directions,  as 
temperature  changes.     See  figure  47. 

6.  Robinson's  anemometer. 

The  instrument  used  by  the  Signal  Service  for  measuring  the  velocity  of 
tlie  wind  is  a  modification  of  the  Robinson  anemometer,  so  arranged  that  it 
can  be  easily  erected.  The  frame  oilers  little  surface  to  obstruct  the  passage 
of  the  wind,  and  the  velocity  may  be  read  either  directly  from  the  anemometer 
itself,  or  the  instrument  may  be  connected  with  an  electric  self-register  and  a 
continuous  record  obtained  upon  prepared  forms.  The  latter  method  is 
followed  in  the  exhilnt.  The  anemometer  is  set  on  top  of  the  E.vposition 
building,  with  electric  connections  running  to  the  register. 

The  velocity  of  the  air,  or  wind,  ranges  from  an  almost  imperceptible 
movement  to  that  of  one  or  more  miles  per  nunute.  On  account  of  the  fric- 
tion resulting  from  the  moving  air  in  contact  with  the  surface  of  the  earth, 
or  objects  upon  the  earth,  the  movement  of  the  air  is  retarded  near  the  sur- 
face. It  is  estimated  that  the  effect  of  this  friction  decreases  from  20  to  50 
per  cent,  for  the  first  hundred  feet  above  tlie  earth,  and  gradually  diminishes 
until  it  is  believed  to  have  but  little  effect  at  an  elevation  of  10,000  feet.  To 
reduce  the  effect  of  this  friction  instruments  designed  to  measure  the  velocity 
of  the  wind  should  be  placed  as  far  above  the  earth  and  away  from  obstruc- 
tions as  practicable. 

The  rapidity  with  which  the  air  moves  upon  the  earth's  surface  at  the 
several  points  of  observation  has  an  important  bearing  upon  future  meteor- 
ological conditions,  and  careful  judgment  should  be  exercised  in  selecting 
points  of  measurement  where  the  influence  of  surrounding  objects  is  reduced 
to  a  minimum,  and  the  instrument  is  supported  upon  a  lirm  basis  and  kept  in 
good  running  order. 


I 


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Ucad  •■  Major  (ic,..  W.  M,K<'c  ""  for  ••  Major  <u'o.  \V.  Mekcr."  .  I'a-c  r'4. 


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Gaylord  Bros.,  Inc. 

Stockton,  Calif. 
T.M.  Reg.  U.S.  Pat.  Ofl. 


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